What Chopsticks Ask of You

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)

For foreigners in China for the first time, learning to use chopsticks is often the first step towards understanding Chinese culture.

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)

Chopsticks have a long history in China, and to this day they remain the main tool Chinese people eat with.

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)

They look simple — just two long pieces of wood — but there is a good deal to be careful about when using them.

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)

First, at a meal you must not stick your chopsticks upright in your rice.

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)

In parts of China people do that only when honouring the dead, so doing it at the table is considered very impolite.

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)

Second, do not tap your bowl with your chopsticks.

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)

In the past only beggars tapped their bowls to ask others for food, so old people would tell children it was a bad habit.

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)

Besides, making a loud noise while eating is impolite in itself.

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)

Also, when taking food, it is best not to turn things over and over in the dish with your chopsticks, picking out only what you like.

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)

That is not only unhygienic; it also makes the people eating with you uncomfortable.

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)

And when talking, do not point at people with your chopsticks; like pointing with a finger, it makes the other person feel you are being rude.

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)

In some homes and restaurants an extra pair is laid on the table; these are called “public chopsticks”.

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)

Public chopsticks are shared by everyone and used only to take food from the dishes, never put in your own mouth.

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)

When a host wants to serve a guest, as a sign of warmth, they also use the public chopsticks — polite and healthy at once.

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)

In recent years more and more restaurants have started offering public chopsticks to customers without being asked.

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)

So what should a foreign friend do if they cannot use chopsticks well?

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)

In fact, there is no need to worry too much.

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)

Chinese people generally will not laugh at a guest for not knowing how; they will warmly show you, or bring you a spoon.

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)

At the table, what really matters is not how skilfully you handle chopsticks, but respect for the people you are eating with.