1. Table Manners China vs. America
By Megan Tepper

2. Eating Habits in China Sample every dish on table
When eating rice hold bowl close to mouth
Eat lightly at meals, could be up to 20 courses

3. Eating Habits in America
Food is passed to the right
Try little of everything
Keep table cloth clean
Food lifted to mouth
Repulsive to talk with mouth full
No elbows on table

4. China’s Chopsticks Chopsticks for eating rice
Rude if chopsticks are stuck straight up in bowl
Chopsticks for eating rice
Polite if try to use chopsticks
Bad luck in set parallel on top of bowl, or dropped

5. Americans Utensils
Start with the outer utensils, and work in towards your plate
Only spoon provided is soup spoon
Salad fork has thicker tine at left
Fish fork and knife
Most inner fork and knife are for meat
If tea or coffee or going to be served a teaspoon will be brought out with it

6. Chinese Hot Towel Tot towel is provided at end of meal
So one can wipe hands and mouth at end of meal

7. American Napkin Once seated put napkin on lap
Napkin should not be crumpled or twisted
At informal occasion is used to clean up mess that occurred during meal
Once seated put napkin on lap
Only meant to dab the lips and not get dirty
After meal place napkin loosely near plate

8. Chinese Table Manners
Not rude to reach in front of someone to grab something
Polite to reach for food with chopsticks
Chinese host like to put food on your plate for you
Place bones or seeds in different dish
Your host will fill up your dish if it is empty
Never take the last bit from a serving dish

9. American Table Manners
Food is passed around the table
If something is out of your reach, you ask politely for someone to pass it to you
Not rude to leave plate full
Not rude to leave your plate empty
Not rude to take last item off dish

10. Business Table Manners in China
Banquets start around 6:30-7:00 p.m.
Last about 2 hours
Arrive 30 minuets before you guests
Business is not always discussed during a meal
Never eat before your host
Return the favor

11. Business Table Manners in America
Arrive early, especially if you are the host
Pay for the meal in advance
Courteous to hold the door open for male and female
Business is discussed during the meal

12. Special Occasions in China
Big elaborate meals
Usually held at restaurants that consist of 10 or more courses
Rice is not served

13. Special Occasions in America
Usually only gather for special occasions or holidays
Families travel across country for special meals
Extra cooking and preparing

14. Values in China Still have customs and traditions
Have not let things become unimportant
Significance into their meals
Personal approach

15. Values in America Manners surround being polite and proper
Traditions have become unimportant thus have forgotten about them
No customs in table manners, only what looks nice
No significance