Table Manners

1)Assoonasthehostesspicksuphernapkin(餐巾）,pickyoursupandlayitonyourlap.Sometimesarollofbreadiswrappedinit;ifso,tokeitourandputitonyoursideplate.

2)TheSoupCourse

Dinnerusuallybeginswithsoup.Thelargestspoonatyourplaceisthesoupspoon.Itwillbebesideyourplateattheright-handside.

3)TheFishCourse

Ifthereisafishcourse,itwillprobablyfollowthesoup.Theremaybeaspecialforkforthefish,oritmaybesimilartothemeatfork.Oftenitissmaller.

4)TheMeatCourse

ThemainCourseisusuallyservedbythehosthimself,especiallyifitisafowl(鸡禽）oraroastwhichneedtobecarved.Hewilloftenaskeachguestwhatpieceheprefers,anditisquitepropertostateyourpreferenceastoleanorfat,dark（红肉）orlight（白肉）.

5)UsingKnifeandFork

IfyouhaveEnglishandAmericanfriendsyouwillnoticeafewdifferencesintheircustomsofeating.Forthemainormeatcurse,theEnglishkeeptheforkinthelefthand,pointcurveddownward,andbringthefoodtothemoutheitherbystickingthepointsontoitorinthecaseofsoftvegetables,byplacingitfirmlyontheforkinthispositionwiththeknife.Americanscarvethemeatinthesameposition,thenlaydowntheknifeandtakingtheforkintherighthandwiththepointturnedup,pushitunderasmallpieceoffoodwithoutthehelpoftheknifeandbringittothemothright-side-up.

6)HelpingYourselfandRefusing

Ifaservantpassesfoodaround,hewillpassthedishinatyourlefthandsothatyoucanconvenientlyserveyourselfwithyourrighthand.Neverserveyourselfwhilethedishisonyourright;itisthentheturnofyourneighborontheright.Itispolitetotakesomeofeverythingthatispassedtoyou.Butifthereissomethingyoumaynotlike,youmayquietlysay:"Nothankyou."

7)SecondHelpings

Thehostessmayormaynotaskifyouwouldlikeasecondhelping,accordingtotheformalityofthemeal.Ifshedoesandyouacceptit,youshouldpassyourplatetoherortotheservantwiththeknifeandforkstilllyingonit.

8)TheSaladCourse

Asaladiseatenwithaforkonlyheldintherighthandwithpointsturnedup.Thereisusuallyaspecialoneforthesalad,alittlesmallerthanthemeatfork.

9)BreadandButter

Breadistakeninthefingersandlaidonthesideplateortheedgeofthelargeplate,itisnevertakewithafork.Butteristakenfromthebutterdishwiththebutterknifeandplacedonthesideplate,notonone’sbread.

10)OtherThingsontheTable

Whentherearethingsonthemiddleofthetable,suchasbread,butter,jelly,pickles,nits,candies,youshouldnottakeanyuntilthehostessahssuggestedthattheybepassed.

11)LeavingtheTable

Itisimpoliteforaguesttoleavethetableduringameal,orbeforethehostessgivesthesignalattheend.Whenthehostessindicatesthatthedinnerisover,shewillstattorisefromherseatandalltheguestssherisefromtheirsatthesametime.

12)VariousrulesandSuggestions

Situpstraightonyourchair;Donotputmuchfoodinyourmouthatatime;Drinkonlywhenthereisnofoodinyourmouth;Trynottogetintoyourmouthanythingthatwillhavetobetakenout;Donotmakeanynosewhenyoueat;Donotcleanyourteethatthetableoranywhereinpublic,eitherwithyourfingeroratoothpick(牙签）,notevenwithyoutongue.
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