西方和中国的餐桌礼仪差异英语作文

西方和中国的餐桌礼仪差异英语作文
全文共3篇示例，供读者参考
篇1
Table Manners: East vs West
Hi there! My name is Emily and I'm going to tell you all about the different table manners in the Western world and China. It's really interesting how people from different cultures have their own unique ways of behaving at the dinner table. Let me share what I've learned!
In the Western countries like the United States, Canada, and England, there are quite a few important rules about table manners that kids are expected to follow. First off, we're taught to wait until everyone is seated before starting to eat. It's considered rude to dig into your food while others are still getting settled.
Another big one is keeping your elbows off the table while eating. My parents are always reminding me to take my elbows off the table! The reason is that it looks sloppy and takes up too much space that could be used for plates and utensils. You're
also supposed to chew with your mouth closed so no one has to see or hear the half-chewed food. Yuck!
Speaking of utensils, we mainly use forks, knives, and spoons in the West. Using your hands to eat is usually frowned upon unless it's finger foods like pizza or burgers. You're expected to know which utensil to use for each food item. For example, you'd use a fork for things like salad and pasta, and a knife for cutting up tougher meats.
Licking your plate clean is a huge no-no in Western culture. It's considered uncouth and improper. You're supposed to leave a little bit of food behind on your plate when you're done eating. I've also been told that you should never blow on your hot food to cool it down - that's seen as rude. The proper way is to just wait patiently for it to get to an edible temperature.
Making loud noises like burping, slurping, or smacking your lips is usually looked down upon too. Those noises can be startling and gross others out, so we're taught to eat as quietly as possible. And you definitely don't want to talk with your mouth full of food - that's one of the cardinal sins of table manners!
Now let's talk about Chinese table manners, which can be quite different. In China, it's actually perfectly okay to make some noise while eating. Slurping your noodles or soup is not rude at
all - in fact, it's seen as a way to show you're enjoying your food. The smacking and burping noises that would get you scolded in the West are more acceptable in China.
Another big difference is that it's normal to pick up food with your hands, like pieces of meat or vegetables, rather than using utensils for everything. Chinese people only really use chopsticks or serving spoons and forks. Licking your plate clean is also not viewed as unacceptable behavior. It shows you really liked the food and didn't want to waste any of it.
Chinese table manners put a lot of emphasis on sharing and not wasting food. It's common for dishes to be served
family-style in the middle of the table for everyone to share from. You're expected to keep refilling your bowl or plate from these central dishes. Leaving a lot of food behind on your plate can be seen as ungrateful.
There's also not the same rule about waiting for everyone to be seated before starting to eat. People can start digging in as soon as the first few dishes are on the table. And elbows on the table while eating? Not a big deal at all in China! The rules are a bit more relaxed.
Another neat tradition is that in China, it's polite to make a slurping noise when drinking hot liquids like tea or soup. The
slurping cools the liquid down and shows you're enjoying it. You'll often hear those slurping sounds at a Chinese meal.
So as you can see, there are quite a few differences between Western and Chinese table manners! Some behaviors that would be frowned upon in one culture are perfectly acceptable in the other. It just goes to show that manners and etiquette can vary a lot around the world.
I think both sets of manners make sense in their own way. The Western rules are meant to avoid being a distraction or nuisance to others with loud chewing, slurping, etc. The Chinese approach is more focused on showing appreciation for the food and not leaving anything behind.
No matter which set of manners you follow, the most important things are to be respectful, thankful for your food, and considerate of those around you. Good manners make meals more enjoyable for everyone! I'll keep learning about the different cultures and all their fascinating traditions.
篇2
Eating Manners Around the World
Hi there! My name is Sam and I'm going to tell you all about the different ways people eat food in different parts of the world.
Isn't it neat how cultures can have such different traditions and customs?
I'll start by telling you about how we eat meals in my family, which follows typical American or Western customs. We eat lots of foods with forks, knives and spoons. My mom always reminds me to not pick up food with my fingers unless it's stuff like pizza, chicken wings or fries. She says using your hands for most foods is bad manners.
We have separate forks for dining and for dessert. The bigger dinner fork is for main dishes like meat, potatoes and veggies. The smaller dessert fork is just for cakes, pies and other sweet treats. You're supposed to start with the outermost fork and work your way in as the meal goes along. Knives are for cutting food into bite-sized pieces.
Speaking of bites, we're taught to never take huge monster bites like a hungry wolf! That's pretty rude. You're supposed to take small bites, chew with your mouth closed, and not talk until you've swallowed your food. Slurping soup or chewing really loudly is no good either.
Oh and get this – in America, you're not allowed to pick your teeth at the table! My friend Jimmy got in huge trouble once for
doing that in the school cafeteria. You have to wait until after the meal to use a toothpick. My mom says it's rude and gross.
When you're drinking things like milk or juice, you should hold the glass with one hand. Don't make loud gulping noises! Burping at the table is a total no-no too. You have to say "excuse me" if you accidentally burp.
Now let me tell you about how meals are different in China and other Asian countries. One big difference is that they use chopsticks for almost every dish instead of forks. Using chopsticks while eating rice or noodles takes a lot of practice. I've tried it a few times but always make a huge mess!
In China, it's okay to pick up food like chicken or egg rolls with your fingers. It's also okay to burp quietly after eating to show you enjoyed the meal. But loud burping is still considered rude, just like in America.
When eating with chopsticks, it's impolite to point them at someone, play with them like drumsticks, or stick them straight up in your bowl of rice. That last one is kind of like leaving knives out at the dinner table where I live.
Chinese people don't typically use large knives at the table like we do. The meat is already chopped into bite-sized pieces in
the kitchen before being served. You'll also never see a plate of bread or dinner rolls like we eat garlic bread or biscuits with our meals.
When taking soup in China, it's okay to drink it directly from the bowl and make slurping sounds. That's actually considered a compliment to the chef that the soup tastes good! In Western cultures though, slurping is seen as bad manners.
Another difference is how in America and Europe, we keep our utensils on the table while eating. But in China and other Asian countries, you're supposed to use chopsticks to push food onto a small plate or bowl in front of you. Then you eat off that plate, not straight out of the main shared dishes.
Oh, and get this – in China if you stick your chopsticks straight up in your bowl of rice, it looks like the incense sticks they burn at funerals to honor the dead! So that's a really bad thing to do by mistake. No one wants to be reminded of death during a nice meal.
When I went to my friend Wei's house for dinner, I also learned that you're never supposed to chopstick-drum on your bowl or plate in China. That's kind of like playing with your food where I'm from. Wei's mom also taught me that you pass
dishes with both hands instead of just one. Using one hand is sloppy and can look greedy, like you're too eager to grab food.
Okay, now for one of the biggest differences between Eastern and Western eating customs. In America and Europe, it's normal to clean your plate and not leave any food behind. That means you ate everything and nothing went to waste.
But in many Asian households, it's actually rude to clean your whole plate! It's supposed to look like you're still a little hungry and could have eaten more. Isn't that so different? Leaving a little rice behind shows you've had plenty and the hosts gave you more than enough to eat. Weird, right?
Phew, keeping track of all these manners sure is hard work! No matter what country you're from though, there are some universal good habits everyone should follow. Things like:
•Saying "please" and "thank you"
•Not talking with your mouth full
•Using your napkin instead of your sleeve
•Waiting until ev eryone is served before starting
•Not making gross noises like burping or slurping (well, except for soup in China!)
•Complimenting the person who cooked the meal
Those are just good manners everywhere. I think most adults would agree too that being a rude, sloppy eater is just gross no matter what. The most important thing is to be respectful, appreciate the food you're served, and not bother people around you.
I may be just a kid, but even I know that good manners at the dinner table can bring people together and make the whole experience more enjoyable for everyone. Whether you use forks, chopsticks or you pick up food with your hands, eating is meant to be a relaxing social occasion. Following basic etiquette just makes it better.
Whew, that was a lot of info! Studying different cultural traditions can really open your eyes to how diverse people are across the world. Isn't it fascinating that things like sharing a meal can be so different based on where you live? I had fun learning about it.
Alright, I'm getting hungry just thinking about all this food. I'm off to practice my chopstick skills...right after I ask my mom where she hid the last slice of cake from last night! Catch you later!
篇3
Eating at the Table: East Meets West
Food brings people together, but how we eat can be quite different across cultures. As a student who has experienced both Chinese and Western dining customs, I've noticed some big differences in table manners between the East and West. Let me share what I've learned!
In the West, there seems to be a lot of rules and proper etiquette to follow at the dinner table. It can feel like you're taking a test on how to eat politely! First, there's the dizzying array of forks, knives, and spoons. Which one do I use for the salad? The main course? The dessert? I've been gently corrected more than once for using the wrong utensil.
Then there's the way we're taught to eat. In the West, it's considered rude to make any noises while eating, like slurping soup or noodles. My grandma says I missed a spot on my face if I accidentally let out a burp, which is treated as an embarrassing lapse in manners. We're supposed to politely chew with our mouths closed, taking small bites. Talking with your mouth full is an absolute no-no.
In contrast, at my Chinese family's dinner table, things tend to be a bit more relaxed. Nobody seems to care if you make some noise while enjoying your food. In fact, slurping noodles and soup is actually considered a compliment to the chef – it shows you're really relishing the flavors! An occasional burp might get a laugh, but it's no big deal.
Another difference is how the food is served and shared. In the West, we usually get our own individual plates with specific portions. But in Chinese cuisine, it's common for dishes to be served family-style, with everyone taking food from the shared plates in the center of the table. This allows you to try a little bit of everything.
Using chopsticks is also a must when eating Chinese food. I remember the struggle of learning how to wield them properly as a kid. At Western meals, I could just dig into my plate with a fork and knife. But chopsticks require a real skill and dexterity that takes practice. Even now, I feel a tinge of embarrassment when a clumsy move causes food to go flying!
Speaking of making a mess, Chinese parents seem a bit more relaxed when it comes to spills or dropped food. Maybe it's because chopsticks increase the risk! In Western culture, spilling
stuff on yourself or the table is seen as sloppy and improper. I've been scolded for dripping food on my clothes before.
One area where I've noticed both cultures encourage good manners is waiting until everyone is served before starting to eat. In the West and East alike, it's considered impolite to dig in before all the dishes have been brought to the table and everyone is ready. Being patient shows respect for your dining companions.
When I think about it, a lot of these differences in table manners stem from the different types of food we eat. Slurping is more acceptable with soupy, saucy Chinese dishes. Using your hands is more common when eating burger or pizza in the West. Traditions and customs around dining etiquette have evolved to match the cuisine.
Of course, dining etiquette isn't just about using the right fork or making noises. Good manners in any culture involve being considerate, respectful and appreciative of those you're sharing a meal with. In Chinese culture, that means offering the best portion to your elders or honored guests. In the West, it means basics like chewing with your mouth closed and not distracting others while they eat.
No matter which side of the globe you're from, meal times bring loved ones together to connect over delicious food. That's the most important thing - not whether you can wield chopsticks with perfect form or use the dessert spoon correctly. Food tastes best when shared and enjoyed among friends and family.
So the next time I'm at a big Western-style dinner party struggling to identify the right fork to use, or fumbling with my chopsticks at a Chinese banquet, I'll try to relax. I'm lucky to have experienced both cultural traditions around the table. A little slurping here, a dropped dumpling there - it's all part of the delicious adventure of dining! Bon appétit or qǐng xiāng yǒng mā? East or West, let's just eat and enjoy.。