中西方餐桌礼仪差异

摘要：餐桌礼仪在交际中占着重要的地位。学习和运用正确的餐桌礼仪，已不仅仅是自身形象的需要，更是提高双效益、提升竞争力的需要，因此笔者认为很有必要学习其深层次的原因，并采取一定的措施来培养跨文化交际的能力，避免文化冲突。

关键词：中西方餐桌礼仪差异原因

Ⅰ. Introduction

Entering the 21st century, intercultural communication has become an indispensable content of people's life. Due to the regional differences, different nationalities and countries has formed there own culture. The table manners are an important part of intercultural communication. Understand the differences between Chinese and Occidental table etiquette and its origin, for foreign language learners, not only increase the understanding of the target language culture, but also can improve the success rate of intercultural communication, avoid misunderstandings and communication barriers by inappropriate behavior.

Ⅱ.The differences between China and Occidental table etiquette

2.1 Brief introduction of China table etiquette

It is documented that China's food etiquette has formed a relatively complete system, which can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty. And this traditional etiquette still is reserved in most areas of China, such as Shandong, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as in many films and TV programs. Under the influence of western food, western etiquette was introduced to the Qing dynasty. During this time, culture communications between two countries become more and more conspicuous.

2.2 Brief introduction of Occidental table etiquette

The western family knew “take the table as a class” as tradition. From the first day of the children at the table, parents began the "dine education" to help their children build good table etiquette. Generally speaking, children in Western began to study meal etiquette system when they were 2 or 3 years old, and they can use these etiquette when 4 years old. About five years old children are ready to do something in themselves power. Such as pre-dinner set tableware, postprandial clean up the table, etc.

Ⅲ. The comparison of difference between China and Occidental table etiquette

Tableware, dining way and a series of table etiquette reflects the different nationality's life style and cultural orientation. Modern social etiquette exist everywhere, meals is not only satisfy basic physiological needs, also is very important social intercourse. There are many dissimilarity requirements in China and Occidental table etiquette, understand the difference in they two; can help us avoid disrespect in communication with others.

3.1 General Comparison

While having dinner, Chinese always like sit around table together eat and drink, speak and laugh loudly to build liveliness and warmth table atmosphere. Chinese people are always very enthusiastic on the table. At the beginning of the dinner, the host will hand around smoke, including formal party. And even the food is delicious enough, the host also will say: this isn't very much pleasing help yourselves, forgive me and so on. During the dining, sometimes Chinese host use their chopsticks to put food in your bowl or plate. This is a sign of politeness. The appropriate thing to do would be to eat whatever it is and say how yummy it is. If you feel uncomfortable with this, you can just say a polite thank you and leave the food there. In china wine is an essential thing on the dining table, whatever the kind of the banquet is. Sometimes for meaning the respect toward the party, people will drink all of time by cup and cup. The host should always make sure the guests' drinks are sufficiently full. When people wish to clink drinks together in the form of a cheer, it is important to observe that younger members should clink the edge of their drink below the edge of an elder to show respect.

3.2 Particulars Comparison

3.2.1 The seating arrangements

Chinese would like to give banquets with old fashioned square table to seat eight people, or round tables. But no matter which table to choose, the seat directly opposite the door should be honorable, meanwhile, besides is less important person. During the banquets, the guest of honor is always the elders or important person or super ordinate one, host, hostess or any other person should have the seats near the door, and other guests should in terms of the ranking in this banquet. However, if the table is not opposite the door, then the right of the seat opposite east is the seat of honor. Generally speaking, the seating arrangement at banquets in China follows the rule of “left and east is the honor seat” and “the seat of honor should opposite the door positively.”

3.2.2 The serving order

First serving cold dishes, beverage, then serving hot dishes, after hot dishes is the staple food, finally are desserts and fruits. When banquet count lots of table each serve of every dish should simultaneously. Serving sequence remains tradition, first cold, then hot. The food should be serving on the left of the guest which opposite seat of honor. Single dishes or side dishes serving should first guest, then host. On the whole chicken, duck, fish and other integrated food all the head and tail, not toward the seat of honor. Generally, serving the dishes have these ways: first is the big dish served, every one for themselves, the second is the waiter or waitress holds the dishes for each one.

Ⅳ. The reasons about differences between China and Occidental table etiquette

There are so many differences between China and Occidental table etiquette at seating arrangements, serving sequence, tableware and usage and so on. In the following text, the author will give the analysis of the existence of these differences as follows:

4.1 Different geographical position of China and Western countries make the different table etiquette

China and western countries have difference locations on the earth. China is located in the east of Eurasia; major climate is monsoon climate, the climate in hot summer and cold winter, seasons distinct. So our crops and vegetables also have the characteristics of the seasons, most food eats in winter, but not easy meet in summer, and vice versa. In China mainly eat grain, table wares also mainly choose chopsticks. But the western countries, especially European countries major climate are oceanic climate. Winter is not too cold and summer is not too hot, the temperature relatively warmly all years. This kind of weather is more suitable for the grass grow. So western animal husbandry has been relatively developed, and Animals such as cows and sheep to be also many. So westerners are mostly carnivorous, and carnivorous requires using sharp table wares, the knives, forks and other western table wares was born, this way of life also produced western dining habits and etiquette.

4.2 Different cultural connotation of China and Occidental make the different table etiquette

Chinese cultural tradition consists on obeying the nature and harmony and union; while the western countries consist on democracy, freedom and equality. They advocate personal value, and think highly of individualism. Take the very tableware used in table etiquette for instance. Chinese use chopsticks, while the westerns use knives and forks. As tableware, the two are not so different from each other; both are symbols of civilization. But, chopsticks, cheap, simple as they are, are from the nature. And we can learn this from the use of chopsticks that the whole process of using them needs cooperation. Any departure of the process will result in a failure of the whole work, which tells us that the center of the Chinese Nation is collectivism. Knife and fork, whose main components are metal, were born in the modern and industrial society, and they were the product of large-scale socialized production. This kind of tool has their social function, and it does not get rid of its nature of attacking. Thus, table etiquette is a realization of cultural identity.

Ⅴ. Conclusion

Because of geographical, cultural and ideal divergence, China and Western countries have many differences in table etiquette, nevertheless, in today’s world, especially when the market economy is blooming; cultural communication is becoming more and closer. Mutual reference between different cultures is under its way silently. Various table etiquettes will also mix together because of culture collision. Thus, they will be understood and accepted by more and more people, which is beneficial to their development and our life as well.

Along with the development of the open policy, it is common to communicate with foreigners, but the communication between different countries is not so easy. As more and more joint ventures have been established in china, competitions between these companies become more and more intensively, so step up the serve become very important. People must ensure the correct manner when they affiliate with foreigners. We all know table manner is unavoidable during the communication, more and more companies focus on the etiquette training.

So as graduating students, we should adjust ourselves to meet the needs of the labor market. We will enter society later, before this we must get the full preparation of being a good worker. Only when we learn the different culture and practice it, we could be match the marketing requirement, find job quickly and do right things during the communication. By doing this can we make our work easier to be handled and work with great efficiency when we become a worker.

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