Differences between Chinese and Western Table Manners中西方餐桌礼仪的差异

Differences between Chinese and Western Table

Manners

Abstract

China is a nation of etiquette, whose table manners have a long history. In fact, western countries have their own peculiar dining custom.With the development of China’s opening-up, more and more Western culture gets into our sight. As we face with unfamiliar cultures and countries, some inevitable cultural conflicts might happen in the communication, which will seriously affect the contacts being carried out smoothly. Table manners have a decisive position in the communication between China and Western countries. During communication we will show our best image and avoid cultural conflicts. Learning and using the right etiquette will not only step up our own impression, but also promote the benefit and strife of the company.This paper mainlydiscusses the differences of table manners between the West and China from several

aspects. Knowing these differences, we can communicate well witheachother.

Key Words: China, western countries, table manners, differences.

中西方餐桌礼仪的差异

摘要

中国是礼仪之邦，其餐桌礼仪源远流长。西方餐桌礼仪也是很有讲究。随着中国对外开放程度的逐渐深入，西方社会的文化越来越多地映入了我们的眼帘。由于我们所面对的是来自陌生的文化和国家，思维方式、生活习惯和行为方式与我们迥然不同的人，在与之交往的过程中不可避免的会出现文化冲突的现象，严重影响了交往的顺利进行。餐桌礼仪在交际当中已经占据了重要的地位，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。本文主要从几个不同的方面论述了中西方餐桌礼仪的差异，了解了它们的不同，我们彼此之间才能更好的交流。

关键词: 中国，西方国家，餐桌礼仪，差异

CONTENTS

Abstract in English…………………...……………………………I Abstract in Chinese …………………………………… … ……. II

1 Introduction (1)

2 Literature Review (1)

3 Main Factors Causing the Differences (3)

3.1Geography (3)

3.2Tradition (4)

3.3Custom (6)

4 Different table manners between China and West (6)

4.1Table setting (7)

4.2 Dinnerware (8)

4.3 The order of serving (9)

4.4Rules when enjoying the meal (10)

5 Conclusion (11)

6Bibliographies (11)

Differences between Chinese and Western Table Manners 1. Introduction

Due to the Chinese people and foreigners have different life styles, the way of thinking, cultures, the table manners between china and western countries show a big difference. Chinese table manners have a long history, which date from Zhou Dynasty, at that time table manners have a quite complete system. Those table manners gradually go to a level of mature and perfect, moreover, they took an important part in the past and still have a deep influence in the modern society. Western dining customs originate in Merovingian Dynasty, France, and in the 20th century, Italian culture came to France, table manners and menu turned to be more elegant and delicate, from that time, books of etiquette are published gradually. Today, table manners inherit in Europe. Table manners in Western countrieshave influence on Chinese table manners because of World Integration. In order to protect our table culture, we can make the two table manners integrated, which is good for us communicating with foreigners. So, it is necessary for us to know the differences of the two table manners.

2．Literature Review

As we all know, different countries have different cultures.Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category of people from another