Ce que les baguettes exigent

对第一次来中国的外国人来说，学会用筷子往往是了解中国文化的第一步。

Duì (fourth tone, falling) dì (fourth tone, falling) yī (first tone, high and level) cì (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) Zhōngguó (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) wàiguó (fourth tone, falling) rén (second tone, rising) lái (second tone, rising) shuō, (first tone, high and level) xuéhuì (second tone, rising) yòng (fourth tone, falling) kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) wǎngwǎng (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) liǎojiě (third tone, dipping) Zhōngguó (first tone, high and level) wénhuà (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) dì (fourth tone, falling) yī (first tone, high and level) bù. (fourth tone, falling)

Pour un étranger qui vient en Chine pour la première fois, apprendre à se servir de baguettes est souvent le premier pas vers la compréhension de la culture chinoise.

筷子在中国已经有很长的历史了，直到今天，它仍然是中国人吃饭时最主要的工具。

Kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) Zhōngguó (first tone, high and level) yǐjīng (third tone, dipping) yǒu (third tone, dipping) hěn (third tone, dipping) cháng (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) lìshǐ (fourth tone, falling) le, (neutral tone) zhídào (second tone, rising) jīntiān, (first tone, high and level) tā (first tone, high and level) réngrán (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) Zhōngguó (first tone, high and level) rén (second tone, rising) chīfàn (first tone, high and level) shí (second tone, rising) zuì (fourth tone, falling) zhǔyào (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) gōngjù. (first tone, high and level)

Les baguettes ont une longue histoire en Chine ; aujourd’hui encore, elles restent le principal ustensile des repas chinois.

筷子看起来很简单，只是两根长长的木头，但是用的时候却有很多需要注意的地方。

Kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) kànqilai (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) jiǎndān, (third tone, dipping) zhǐshì (third tone, dipping) liǎng (third tone, dipping) gēn (first tone, high and level) chángcháng (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) mùtou, (fourth tone, falling) dànshì (fourth tone, falling) yòng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shíhou (second tone, rising) què (fourth tone, falling) yǒu (third tone, dipping) hěn (third tone, dipping) duō (first tone, high and level) xūyào (first tone, high and level) zhùyì (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) dìfang. (fourth tone, falling)

Elles ont l’air simples — deux longs morceaux de bois —, mais leur usage demande beaucoup d’attention.

首先，吃饭的时候，不能把筷子直直地插在米饭上。

Shǒuxiān, (third tone, dipping) chīfàn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shíhou, (second tone, rising) bù (fourth tone, falling) néng (second tone, rising) bǎ (third tone, dipping) kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) zhízhí (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) chā (first tone, high and level) zài (fourth tone, falling) mǐfàn (third tone, dipping) shang. (neutral tone)

D’abord, pendant le repas, on ne plante pas ses baguettes toutes droites dans le riz.

因为在中国的一些地方，只有在纪念去世的人时，人们才会这样做，所以在吃饭的时候这样做被认为很不礼貌。

Yīnwèi (first tone, high and level) zài (fourth tone, falling) Zhōngguó (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) yìxiē (fourth tone, falling) dìfang, (fourth tone, falling) zhǐyǒu (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) jìniàn (fourth tone, falling) qùshì (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) shí, (second tone, rising) rénmen (second tone, rising) cái (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) zhèyàng (fourth tone, falling) zuò, (fourth tone, falling) suǒyǐ (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) chīfàn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shíhou (second tone, rising) zhèyàng (fourth tone, falling) zuò (fourth tone, falling) bèi (fourth tone, falling) rènwéi (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) bù (fourth tone, falling) lǐmào. (third tone, dipping)

Dans certaines régions de Chine, on ne le fait que pour honorer les défunts ; le faire à table est donc jugé très impoli.

其次，不要用筷子敲碗。

Qícì, (second tone, rising) bú (second tone, rising) yào (fourth tone, falling) yòng (fourth tone, falling) kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) qiāo (first tone, high and level) wǎn. (third tone, dipping)

Ensuite, on ne frappe pas son bol avec ses baguettes.

过去，只有要饭的人才会敲着碗向别人要吃的，所以老人们常常告诉孩子，这是一个坏习惯。

Guòqu, (fourth tone, falling) zhǐyǒu (third tone, dipping) yàofàn (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) cái (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) qiāo (first tone, high and level) zhe (neutral tone) wǎn (third tone, dipping) xiàng (fourth tone, falling) biéren (second tone, rising) yào (fourth tone, falling) chī (first tone, high and level) de, (neutral tone) suǒyǐ (third tone, dipping) lǎorénmen (third tone, dipping) chángcháng (second tone, rising) gàosu (fourth tone, falling) háizi, (second tone, rising) zhè (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) huài (fourth tone, falling) xíguàn. (second tone, rising)

Autrefois, seuls les mendiants frappaient leur bol pour demander à manger ; c’est pourquoi les anciens disaient aux enfants que c’était une mauvaise habitude.

而且，吃饭的时候发出很大的声音，本来就不太礼貌。

Érqiě, (third tone, dipping) chīfàn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shíhou (second tone, rising) fāchū (first tone, high and level) hěn (third tone, dipping) dà (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shēngyīn, (first tone, high and level) běnlái (third tone, dipping) jiù (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) tài (fourth tone, falling) lǐmào. (third tone, dipping)

Du reste, faire du bruit en mangeant est en soi peu poli.

另外，取菜的时候，最好不要拿着筷子在盘子里翻来翻去，只选自己喜欢吃的。

Lìngwài, (fourth tone, falling) qǔ (third tone, dipping) cài (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shíhou, (second tone, rising) zuìhǎo (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) yào (fourth tone, falling) ná (second tone, rising) zhe (neutral tone) kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) pánzi (second tone, rising) li (neutral tone) fān (first tone, high and level) lái (second tone, rising) fān (first tone, high and level) qù, (fourth tone, falling) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) xuǎn (third tone, dipping) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) xǐhuan (third tone, dipping) chī (first tone, high and level) de. (neutral tone)

Par ailleurs, quand on se sert, mieux vaut ne pas retourner le plat dans tous les sens avec ses baguettes pour ne choisir que ce qu’on aime.

这样做不仅不干净，也会让一起吃饭的人觉得不舒服。

Zhèyàng (fourth tone, falling) zuò (fourth tone, falling) bùjǐn (fourth tone, falling) bù (fourth tone, falling) gānjìng, (first tone, high and level) yě (third tone, dipping) huì (fourth tone, falling) ràng (fourth tone, falling) yìqǐ (fourth tone, falling) chīfàn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) juéde (second tone, rising) bù (fourth tone, falling) shūfu. (first tone, high and level)

Ce n’est pas seulement peu hygiénique : cela met aussi mal à l’aise ceux qui mangent avec vous.

还有，说话的时候不要用筷子指着别人，这和用手指指着别人一样，会让对方觉得你没有礼貌。

Hái (second tone, rising) yǒu, (third tone, dipping) shuōhuà (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shíhou (second tone, rising) bú (second tone, rising) yào (fourth tone, falling) yòng (fourth tone, falling) kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) zhe (neutral tone) biéren, (second tone, rising) zhè (fourth tone, falling) hé (second tone, rising) yòng (fourth tone, falling) shǒuzhǐ (third tone, dipping) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) zhe (neutral tone) biéren (second tone, rising) yíyàng, (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) ràng (fourth tone, falling) duìfāng (fourth tone, falling) juéde (second tone, rising) nǐ (third tone, dipping) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) lǐmào. (third tone, dipping)

Enfin, en parlant, on ne désigne personne avec ses baguettes : comme montrer quelqu’un du doigt, cela donne à l’autre le sentiment qu’on est impoli.

在一些家庭和饭店里，桌子上还会多放一双筷子，叫“公筷”。

Zài (fourth tone, falling) yìxiē (fourth tone, falling) jiātíng (first tone, high and level) hé (second tone, rising) fàndiàn (fourth tone, falling) li, (neutral tone) zhuōzi (first tone, high and level) shang (neutral tone) hái (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) duō (first tone, high and level) fàng (fourth tone, falling) yì (fourth tone, falling) shuāng (first tone, high and level) kuàizi, (fourth tone, falling) jiào (fourth tone, falling) “gōngkuài”. (first tone, high and level)

Dans certaines familles et certains restaurants, on pose sur la table une paire supplémentaire, appelée « baguettes communes ».

公筷就是大家共同使用的筷子，只用来取菜，不放进自己的嘴里。

Gōngkuài (first tone, high and level) jiù (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) dàjiā (fourth tone, falling) gòngtóng (fourth tone, falling) shǐyòng (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) kuàizi, (fourth tone, falling) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) yòng (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) qǔ (third tone, dipping) cài, (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) fàngjìn (fourth tone, falling) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) zuǐ (third tone, dipping) li. (neutral tone)

Les baguettes communes servent à tout le monde, uniquement pour prendre la nourriture dans les plats, et ne vont jamais à la bouche.

主人想给客人取菜、表示热情的时候，也会用公筷，这样既礼貌又健康。

Zhǔrén (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) gěi (third tone, dipping) kèrén (fourth tone, falling) qǔ (third tone, dipping) cài, (fourth tone, falling) biǎoshì (third tone, dipping) rèqíng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shíhou, (second tone, rising) yě (third tone, dipping) huì (fourth tone, falling) yòng (fourth tone, falling) gōngkuài, (first tone, high and level) zhèyàng (fourth tone, falling) jì (fourth tone, falling) lǐmào (third tone, dipping) yòu (fourth tone, falling) jiànkāng. (fourth tone, falling)

Quand l’hôte veut servir un invité pour lui témoigner son attention, il utilise lui aussi les baguettes communes : c’est à la fois poli et sain.

近几年，越来越多的饭店开始主动给客人提供公筷。

Jìn (fourth tone, falling) jǐ (third tone, dipping) nián, (second tone, rising) yuè (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) yuè (fourth tone, falling) duō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) fàndiàn (fourth tone, falling) kāishǐ (first tone, high and level) zhǔdòng (third tone, dipping) gěi (third tone, dipping) kèrén (fourth tone, falling) tígōng (second tone, rising) gōngkuài. (first tone, high and level)

Ces dernières années, de plus en plus de restaurants proposent d’eux-mêmes des baguettes communes à leurs clients.

那么，外国朋友如果用不好筷子，应该怎么办呢？

Nàme, (fourth tone, falling) wàiguó (fourth tone, falling) péngyou (second tone, rising) rúguǒ (second tone, rising) yòng (fourth tone, falling) bu (neutral tone) hǎo (third tone, dipping) kuàizi, (fourth tone, falling) yīnggāi (first tone, high and level) zěnme (third tone, dipping) bàn (fourth tone, falling) ne? (neutral tone)

Alors, que faire si l’on est un ami étranger et qu’on manie mal les baguettes ?

其实不用太担心。

Qíshí (second tone, rising) bú (second tone, rising) yòng (fourth tone, falling) tài (fourth tone, falling) dānxīn. (first tone, high and level)

En réalité, inutile de trop s’inquiéter.

中国人一般不会因为客人不会用筷子而笑话他们，反而会热情地教他们，或者给他们拿一把勺子。

Zhōngguó (first tone, high and level) rén (second tone, rising) yìbān (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) yīnwèi (first tone, high and level) kèrén (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) yòng (fourth tone, falling) kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) ér (second tone, rising) xiàohuà (fourth tone, falling) tāmen, (first tone, high and level) fǎn (third tone, dipping) ér (second tone, rising) huì (fourth tone, falling) rèqíng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) jiāo (first tone, high and level) tāmen, (first tone, high and level) huòzhě (fourth tone, falling) gěi (third tone, dipping) tāmen (first tone, high and level) ná (second tone, rising) yì (fourth tone, falling) bǎ (third tone, dipping) sháozi. (second tone, rising)

En général, les Chinois ne se moquent pas d’un invité qui ne sait pas s’en servir ; au contraire, ils lui montrent volontiers comment faire, ou lui apportent une cuillère.

吃饭的时候，真正重要的不是筷子用得多么熟练，而是对一起吃饭的人的尊重。

Chīfàn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shíhou, (second tone, rising) zhēnzhèng (first tone, high and level) zhòngyào (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) bú (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) kuàizi (fourth tone, falling) yòng (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) duōme (first tone, high and level) shúliàn, (second tone, rising) ér (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) duì (fourth tone, falling) yìqǐ (fourth tone, falling) chīfàn (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) zūnzhòng. (first tone, high and level)

À table, ce qui compte vraiment, ce n’est pas l’habileté avec les baguettes, mais le respect envers ceux avec qui l’on mange.