Mandarin Go | Chinese Chopsticks

Follow Us ☝

Chopsticks are a pair of short, thin sticks that taper at the end. They are used mainly by the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans for  be made of bamboo, wood, plastic or metal. In the old days, the Chinese name for chopsticks was 箸（zhù）.They are now known as 筷子（kuàizi.

Chopsticks have been used by the Chinese people for at least 3000 years. The Japanese and Koreans have been using them for a long time too, so the chopstick culture is basically East Asian.

When eating, the Chinese usually hold up a bowl of rice and use the chopsticks to push the food into their mouth. They will sometimes use their own chopsticks to pick up food for other members of the family as a sign of affection. To demonstrate his hospitality, the host may pick up some dishes for the guests with his own chopsticks. This is a sign of politeness. The appropriate thing to do is to eat whatever it is and say how delicious it is.

Increasingly, because of hygiene considerations, a dedicated pair of chopsticks 公筷（gōngkuài）is used to transfer food from a communal plate to one’s own plate, particularly when eating in a restaurant. Occasionally, some restaurants provide two pairs of chopsticks for each guest-one pair to transfer food to their own plate and another pair for tucking in. This may seem inconvenient but is done for purposes of hygiene.

The correct way of holding chopsticks is to hold chopsticks in the middle, making sure that the ends are even. There are some taboos about using chopsticks. Don’t stick your chopsticks upright in the rice bowl because, in most parts of China, it indicates the food is for the dead. Lay them beside your bowl or plate. Don’t wave chopsticks above the dishes. Don’t tap on your bowl with your chopsticks. Beggars tap on their bowls, so this is not polite. Avoid sucking the ends of your chopsticks or keeping them in your mouth for a long time. Never point at someone with your chopsticks and do not use them to prick food in order to pick it up. These are also regarded as impolite and rude.

Chinese people are taught from childhood to “stand properly, sit properly and eat properly”, and receive training about table manners. The training includes seat selection, being courteous to the elderly how to hold chopsticks, and when to speak cheerfully and humorously.

Although some youngsters feel these are tedious and restrictive, the rules of table manners still remain, and the Chinese traditions concerned are thus preserved.

To learn more about Chinese chopsticks and discuss it with Chinese teachers, book a free trial class with  Mandarin Go 👇