Since food is such an important part of business in China, knowing proper table manners can help you immensely. One slip-up could ruin your standing with a client or boss!
Check out my list of simple rules for Chinese table manners here: http://countryandahalf.com/chinese-dining-etiquette/ \
Hope this helps!
https://www.xinergy.global/your-ultimate-guide-for-business-culture-in-china/
- Introduce yourself. Before engaging in business negotiations, it is customary to exchange pleasantries. Make sure to be kind and courteous. Keep things light. Respectful small talk before the meeting is expected and encouraged. You may be asked if you have eaten or if you are hungry. Such a question is typical in Chinese business etiquette. Even if you have not eaten, it is common to respond that you are fine. Such communication is considered a routine part of exchanging pleasantries.
- Nod your head or even bow when meeting somebody new. Handshakes are also common but wait for the Chinese individual to extend their hand before engaging them physically.
- Exchange business cards when they meet others for professional matters. Like many other countries, Business etiquette in China dictates that one should share their personal information with the people they meet. However, unlike other countries, in China, hold the card with both hands while presenting it to an individual as this gesture is a sign of respect and reverence.
- Preparation is key. Bring high-end materials to meetings. There should be enough documents for everyone in the room to have a copy. Printing extras on quality paper is always a good idea.
- Be punctual. Showing up late may be considered a sign of disrespect. Make sure to research the company you intend to meet with and be prepared to discuss your own business.
- Invest in a translator or intermediary who can communicate clearly with both sides. The language barrier can be tricky. Many Chinese firms have English-speaking officials, but much of what either party may say can be lost without an adept interpreter.
- Pay attention to rank. More powerful officials will usually dress in formal attire while mid-tier workers generally wear a more casual dress. Use proper titles when addressing potential business partners.
- Enter the room in order of rank. The highest-ranking official should lead the line. Similarly, the person who is considered the most powerful in the place should be the first to sit down.
- Allow the Chinese to leave the room first. Wait till the host finishes the meeting and stands. Letting the Chinese exit the room first is considered as a sign of respect on your part. It is highly probable that the Chinese will exit the meeti
Feel like a complete dummy for needing to ask this question. But, also left a restaurant hangry and frustrated today so here it goes...
What’s the proper etiquette for dining in Europe. More specifically, Belgium?
We read in a forum somewhere that most of the time you just seat yourself. We saw people snatching patio tables at a busy restaurant as soon as people would leave after a meal. Then someone would come by and bussed after the fact, so we followed that example.
Then what? Do you flag down a waiter? Do they eventually come to you? We sat at a table for half an hour with no server coming near our part of the restaurant so we ended up leaving and grabbing a sandwich from a to-go place. Sandwich was awesome by the way! Would have liked to have a sit down meal and some beers though ;)
Can I use the fancy cloth napkin to blow my nose repeatedly until I finish eating?
I was always taught that it's rude to blow your nose at the table. But so is having snot pour out of your nose into the delicious food you're trying to eat.
Have chefs ever considered providing tissues and like a waste bin with a lid at the table? You designed the food. You know what it's going to do. Are you just fucking with us?
Help us out.
I read Dale Carnegie's books before and they are helpful.
My family and I’ll be headed back to Europe (France, Belgium, UK, Netherlands) in October.
When eating lunch or dinner at a restaurant, are you expected to eat/order 3+ (appetizer, main, dessert, etc.) courses?
We usually don’t eat appetizers and choose to grab desserts at shops that specialize in sweets, so we’d only be ordering the main course. Also due to religion, we don’t drink alcohol, coffee, or tea. On past visits to Europe, I’ve made it a point for us to eat at more casual places because I’m afraid that this behavior would be considered rude or atypical.
South Asian here.
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Where should I place used tissues if a dustbin is nowhere in sight like in a house or restaurant?
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Where should I place the large napkin and smaller napkins if they are already soiled so that the table or other implements don't get stained?
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When cutting difficult to cut tough foods like a chicken fry, tough meat pieces: How do you cut effortlessly with a dull knife without looking like you are muscling and jostling and making clank noises on the plate with food getting splattered all around?
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When should I use my hands? For instance a pizza is not eaten with hands right?
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When eating rice like in Asian foods, the spoon is on your right hand and the fork is on your left right? When you need to eat the chicken fry along with the rice, do you then change to your knife and fork eat it and then again revert to the fork and spoon? What is the correct way here?
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What if you accidentally puke or throw up in your mouth and some falls as you are rushing to the bathroom? Do you offer to clean it up or something?
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What is the rule of thumb for using your hands? What food do you use with your hands?
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We don't use our left hand for touching food. But using utensils is acceptable. I see a lot of people holding bread in the left hand and breaking it off with the right hand. What to do in this case?
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If my hand is soiled from food, do I still go on to use my utensils knowing that the utensils will get stained as well?
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How do you take bones or seeds from your mouth and on to the bone plate with grace?
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Where do I place the large napkin? In my collar or lap? Is it ever acceptable to place the napkin on your collar? If so, how should it be tied to the collar?
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Is it acceptable to fold your cuffs, open your tie or collar during eating?
https://preview.redd.it/tpxgeq1qo8a51.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af018a13a2f87d0102e4655088e644a6626d1bc4
EDIT: also dress
Hello, I am a UC Davis student doing a research paper for a writing class. This topic is not relevant to my majoring field but rather the class is mostly to teach the paper writing process. This should be pretty short to complete and we'll raffle off a $5 Amazon card to the participants.
Thank you and have a nice day~
I believe you could also select your country to have a direct comparison, but I am not sure if that was a feature. For example, selecting Germany, it would tell you that its common to tip anywhere to 5-15% of the bill in a restaurant. It would also tell you what type of electronic plug they have and handy info like that.
Let's get the basics right. Fork in left hand, knife in right hand. The fork doesn't change hands, like the way many Americans do it.
I was always taught to hold the fork and knife in the same way, with the forefinger of the L hand and R hand respectively, pressing down, and the handle running under the palm of the hand. This is basically European Style.
I see so many Australian people holding the fork in the left hand European Style......yet holding the knife in the right hand in what can only be described as approximating the grip of a pencil.
Basically like this. (Substitute knife for spoon).
I have so many questions.
Is it like the trad grip / matched grip divide in drumming? Do you do this? If so, why? Is this a class thing? Is it a thing like pronouncing the letter H as either haitch or aitch? If you hold a knife in this way, how can you tackle a tough overcooked steak?
>Is everyone a fricken sjw liberal arts non binary snowflake now days? Jesus! You cannot be a straight male in this world anymore without triggering so called "feminists" and creating such a huge backlash of hateful outrage.
>Real feminists love straight men because it is straight men who adore them and treat them like the queen they are.
>The problem with the world today is that our society is lacking in real men and real women. The vast majority of males and females are completely inept, self righteous, entitled, privledged, adolescent douchebags and bitches. The reason we have so many social dropouts is because we have very few true role models anymore to show young males how to be a man and young females how to be a woman. Everyone thinks they are so #woke, but the truth is if you all were so "woke" then you wouldn't be triggered by the natural order of things.
>Men and women are a perfect match for one another physiologically, emotionally, and psychologically. You want to talk about a true systemic issue plauging our societies? It's the degradation of men and women, families, and normal human behavior, and it's been going on for millennia, but we are just now starting to see the rotten fruits of it's labor. No, this is not hate speech. I love all human beings no matter what your gender/gender identity, sexual preference, race, religion, etc., but my point is that the powers that be, the bourgeoisie, they want to divide us amongst ourselves. They want us all arguing and fighting with each other. That is because we have power in numbers, and if we are all arguing about gay rights, trans rights, black rights, women's rights, minority rights, gun rights, freedom of speech, etc. then we won't be focused on the one most important right that we are all seeming to forget: HUMAN RIGHTS.
>We are all human beings. We all have pink meat, red blood, breathe the same air, eat the same foods, shit, piss, fart, and burp. The ONLY difference between us is the ruling class. Has it been a male dominated system for millennia? YES, but that idea is a trap. We cannot get caught up on these various arguments because there is only one true argument that we all need to focus on, and that is the ruling elite want us divided, so we cannot rise against the system and make the beautiful world that we ALL hope to see. The real enemy is the greedy, power hungry, monopolistic, "elites" pulling all the strings behind the scenes. They are laughing it up right now
... keep reading on reddit ➡Such as:
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If there's a hostess plainly visible, do not seat yourself.
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If you have two people in your party, do not take a table that fits 5+ when other 2 tops are accessible.
-Etc.
What are your thoughts?
Today as I was eating breakfast in the 8 I overheard a few people at a table near me talking about a sermon from the church I go to. I felt an urge to talk to them about it but figured that would probably be obnoxious.
Just a few minutes later, I heard some Pokémon Emerald music coming from someone playing their gameboy. I goddamn LOVE Emerald (still have it in my dorm, I play every once in a while) and again, I felt the urge to talk to the guy but I figured it would be obnoxious.
I’m always looking to make new friends, but what do you guys think? Did I make the right move, or do people not tend to mind when strangers talk to them? Does it make a difference if they’re in a group or alone? Headphones or not? If it’s not obnoxious to talk to them, would it be too forward to sit down straightaway? Just curious what other people think.
I understand Indians are very particular about touching food (something about it become impure ?), but what drives me up the wall is eating with hands. How is this considered hygienic ? There's no way to really sterilize your hands and so much germs get caught between your nails.
Is cutlery not compatible with Indian food ? Or is there a cultural reason to this that trumps hygiene concerns ? Other Asian countries have a lot of gravy or soup in their food, but they seem to use bowls and spoons generally.
Kind of related to dining etiquette - what's the deal with going to the restroom with so much food clinging to your hands and mouth filled with food ? 9/10 the basin seems to be filled with teeny weeny pieces of cauliflower, tomato or potatos. Is washing your last gulp down with water not that common ? Does this have something to do with a historical water shortage or maybe a lack of easily available napkins ?
I know a lot of Chinese leave restrooms in a pathetic state, and Indians are much better - but the basins seem equally bad.
Edit: When I mentioned nails - this is categorically not about long nails. Germs get stuck in your fingertips around your nails. So if you eat food that has liquids, the risk of infection is there.
Genuinely curious about his question after having a debate.
Let's say this son in law often goes for dinner with his wife's family, and they often pick up the bill for him. Is it not customary and polite for him to at least offer to pay the bill sometimes?
Thanks all!
My husband and I are traveling to Italy for our 1 year anniversary. We have never been to Italy before, and want to make sure that we are as prepared as possible in regards to restaurant suggestions and general manners (the last thing I want to do is be the offensive American stereotype).
Length We will be in Italy for a total of 13 days (Rome for the first 4 nights, Venice for the following 3 nights and then Florence for the remainder of the trip)
Budget We have saved money for the trip, but we would like to keep it reasonable. We have no desire to purchase really high end souvenirs or clothes, really we have budgeted for food/drink: $3K for the time we are there (this does not include airfare/hotels).
Food As long as the food is good, it doesn't matter if it's 4 star or came from a street cart. We have no food restrictions whatsoever and are both incredibly flexible when it comes to food. We have 2 reservations already set (the first is in Rome, and my husband is surprising me with that one, the second is in Modena at Osteria Francescana). Those are the budget busting restaurants. We would like to eat (the rest of the time) at authentic and tasty places. Can I get some recommendations for great gelato places and maybe some lunch/dinner recs that are not crazy expensive? Any tips for what we should keep a look out for on a menu?
Culture: We have tours booked at the Vatican museums, the Colosseum, etc... What other places would be important to see? My family has been to Italy and said that the Borghese Gallery was incredible. Thoughts?
Safety We are not notice travelers and obviously each place has some degree of crime. How serious is the pickpocket reputation to Rome? Are there any tips to make sure we are traveling as smart as possible?
Skill level Neither of us speak any Italian whatsoever - is this a big problem?
Etiquette: I have read many conflicting comments regarding eating pasta with a spoon vs. fork only? Also, no cappu in the evening, only in the morning? What are the thoughts around sharing a plate? Not ordering wine? Also, I have heard that water is pretty expensive, any thoughts on carrying a water bottle? Are there any just good rules of thumb my husband and I can know about to make sure we are not obnoxious diners?
That's about it! Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll try to clarify.
Hello, I am a UC Davis student doing a research paper for a writing class. This topic is not relevant to my majoring field but rather the class is mostly to teach the paper writing process. This should be pretty short to complete and we'll raffle off a $5 Amazon card to the participants.
Thank you and have a nice day~
