1.中国基本的餐饮礼仪

中国人一般都很讲究吃，同时也很讲究吃相。随着职场礼仪越来越被重视，商务饭桌上的吃和吃相也更加讲究。以下以中餐为例，教你如何在餐桌上有礼有仪，得心应手。中餐宴席进餐伊始，服务员送上的第一道湿毛巾是擦手的，不要用它去擦脸。上龙虾、鸡、水果时，会送上一只小水盅，其中飘着柠檬片或玫瑰花瓣，它不是饮料，而是洗手用的。洗手时，可两手轮流沾湿指头，轻轻涮洗，然后用小毛巾擦干。

用餐时要注意文明礼貌。对外宾不要反复劝菜，可向对方介绍中国菜的特点，吃不吃由他。有人喜欢向他人劝菜，甚至为对方夹菜。外宾没这个习惯，你要是一再客气，没准人家会反感：“说过不吃了，你非逼我干什么？”依此类推，参加外宾举行的宴会，也不要指望主人会反复给你让菜。你要是等别人给自己布菜，那就只好饿肚子。

客人入席后，不要立即动手取食。而应待主人打招呼，由主人举杯示意开始时，客人才能开始；客人不能抢在主人前面。

夹菜要文明，应等菜肴转到自己面前时，再动筷子，不要抢在邻座前面，一次夹菜也不宜过多。

要细嚼慢咽，这不仅有利于消化，也是餐桌上的礼仪要求。不要挑食，不要只盯住自己喜欢的菜吃，或者急忙把喜欢的菜堆在自己的盘子里。

用餐的动作要文雅，夹菜时不要碰到邻座，不要把盘里的菜拨到桌上，不要把汤泼翻。不要发出不必要的声音，如喝汤时“咕噜咕噜”，吃菜时嘴里“叭叭”作响，这都是粗俗的表现。不要一边吃东西，一边和人聊天。嘴里的骨头和鱼刺不要吐在桌子上，可用餐巾掩口，用筷子取出来放在碟子里。掉在桌子上的菜，不要再吃。

进餐过程中不要玩弄碗筷，或用筷子指向别人。不要用手去嘴里乱抠。用牙签剔牙时，应用手或餐巾掩住嘴。不要让餐具发出任何声响。

用餐结束后，可以用餐巾、餐巾纸或服务员送来的小毛巾擦擦嘴，但不宜擦头颈或胸脯；餐后不要不加控制地打饱嗝或嗳气；在主人还没示意结束时，客人不能先离席。

Dinning etiquette in China can be quite intricate and daunting at first.The following etiquette and customs may ease your nervousness and make you enjoy China's cuisine more.

In Chinese restaurants,knives should not be seen on the table.Chopsticks,bowls and soup spoons are the traditional table ware.Food is always cut into bite sized pieces,whole meats such as pig,fish and poultry are cooked till they are so tender that the meat can be removed right off the bones with chopsticks.When using chopsticks don't point them directly at people and never stick them standing upright in your rice bowl—this is a reminder of the incense burned at funerals.

Use a clean spoon solely for taking food from communal plates for yourself or others,if you serve someone with your own chopsticks,use the blunt ends that don't go into your mouth.Though you may see that Chinese people take food directly with their own chopsticks sometimes,especially it will be like that when people have meals with their families,relatives and intimate friends.If you're invited to be a guest at a meal,don't be surprised that if your host orders more food than you can have,this is the way for Chinese people to“save face”and show their hospitality.And also,please don't be surprised if your host keeps serving you choice morsels of food even you don't ask for it,this is another way to show hospitality.

In Chinese customs,the inviter always pays for the meal,unless amongst friends or in an informal setting.It is polite to make an effort to pay,but expect strong resistance,that is why in many Chinese restaurants,it is a common sight to see two people arguing loudly after a meal—they're fighting for the right to pay.When you are not so sure what to do,simply ask your guides or do as local people do.

2.中餐与西餐

方式

中餐是合餐，西餐是分餐制。中餐汤在后，西餐汤在前。

物具

中餐是筷子，西餐是刀叉。中餐正式场合为圆桌，西餐正式场合为长方桌。

礼仪

中餐讲究热闹，西餐讲究安静。中餐希望菜有富裕，西餐没有这个习惯。中餐酒席上不能抹菜的汤水吃，西餐可以用面包蘸汤汁，不算失礼。

There are several aspects of differences between Chinese dinner and western dinner including dinner procedure,dinner instruments,way of serving,structure of dishes etc.

A Comparison of Dinner Procedure

Western dinner

·Starter:vegetable salad or soup

·Main course:the most typical main course would be fillet beef or chicken or fish.

·Dessert:After the main course,normally some sweat food are served,which can be icecream,cakes,fruits,pastries etc.

·Coffee:After the table is cleared,coffee is served.This is normally the very last course.

Chinese dinner

·Tea

·Appetiser/starter:Chinese starters are normally cold dishes.Main materials in Chinese starters can be either vegetables or meat that has been cooked and then cooled down.Soy sauce,vinegar,and hot peper oil etc are often used as flavoring in these cold dishes.

·Dishes:In Chinese food culture,many dishes can be ordered if a group of people sit around one table.Types of Chinese dishes are just too many to enumerate.There are eight major regional cuisines in China,each of which has a series of typical dishes of its own.Beer,wine or alcohol can be taken together with dishes.

·Main course:The main course the Chinese people refer to are not dishes,but rice or wheat food like noodle or bun.This might be a major difference between Chinese food culture and western food culture.This difference has been formed due to the different food structure and different food concept.In traditional Chinese yin-yang theory's point of view,meats are not balanced in terms of yin-yang.So Chinese people do not take them as the main course.In a big banquet with a lot of dishes,people may not be able to eat much rice any more after having many kinds of dishes,but people normally would still have a small bowl of rice or noodle.

·Soup:Chinese soup are served after main dishes.This is another difference between Chinese food culture and western food culture.

·Fruits:The most typical dessert in Chinese dinner are fruits.High quality restaurants would often assemble a big plate with several types of fruits arranged in beautiful patterns.Most favorable fruits might be watermelon and pear,which can make one feel clean and clear in one's mouth and stomach after the meal.

Serving Dishes at the Center of Table vs.in Each One's Own Plate

One of the biggest differences between Chinese dinner and western dinner might be the position on table where dishes are served.

In western dinner,dishes are served in each person's own plate.So each person uses a big plate.Dishes are put to each person's own plate before serving.In western restaurants,everyone orders the three courses for oneself.

In Chinese dinner,dishes are served at the middle of table for all to share,and each person uses a small plate in front of him or her to hold the food one has picked from the shared dishes.Foods are taken from the plates at the center of the table into one's own plate during the course of the meal.One takes as much as one can finish.This custom also applies to starters/appetisers.However,as for Chinese dinner main course like rice or noodle,they are often served to each person separately in a small bowl.

When several people go out for dinner,the Chinese way of having dinner is helpful to make everyone enjoy a diversified meal,because everyone can order a different kind of dish make it shared by all.

This dinner culture difference has brought about a trouble and embarrassment to Chinese restaurant owners in western countries because western people would only order those dishes that they think would be suitable to be the main course.As for many other Chinese dishes,western people would never order them.So gradually Chinese restaurants in western countries are only providing some Chinese dishes that can fit in western people's three-course meal structure.Many other types of dishes that cannot fit in the three-course structure are cut off from the menu.There are also some Chinese restaurants providing different menus to Chinese customers from western customers.Some Chinese restaurants even have adapted their way of cooking to fit western people's taste.This is the reason why Chinese restaurants in western countries become westernized.

Chicken Breast vs.Chicken Necks/Feet

There are some other interesting differences between Chinese food culture and western food culture.

In western supermarkets,chicken breast is the most expensive part among all parts of chicken,while other parts are relatively cheaper.Chicken jaws and necks are just discarded and never sold in western supermarkets.

However,in China,people would regard that meat being close to bones are more tasty than big chunk of meat.Some Chinese people have special interest in having the little chicken meat that can be got from the necks and feet.In China chicken jaws and chicken necks won't be cheap because a reasonable amount of jaws and necks can only be obtained from a lot of hens and cocks.

In western dishes,fish dishes are served absolutely free from bones.If a guest finds bones in the dish,it would be regarded as being too horrible.In Chinese meals,fish are normally served as a whole and removing bones is regarded as a normal part of the meal process.

3.商务中餐：给主人和客人的几点建议

1.与西餐吃法相比，吃中餐规矩不多。中餐一般使用圆桌进餐，大家围坐圆桌旁,自己用筷子夹菜吃。一般是十个人配十道正菜，目的是讲求圆满和十全十美。

2.中餐的餐桌上，每个席位前放有汤碗、筷碟和小瓷汤匙，桌中备有胡椒、酱油、醋等调料，菜夹到碟子里之后再吃。

3.中餐上菜的顺序，虽各地食俗不同，但大体上是按照冷盘→头菜（主题菜）→热炒→大菜→甜品（汤和点心同时上，甜汤配甜点）→水果→茶的顺序上席。当冷盘吃剩三分之一时，开始上第一道热菜，放在主宾面前。主菜上桌后，宴会才逐渐进入气氛。

4.吃中餐没有特别严格的规定，为保证进餐时的欢快气氛，要注意如下礼仪：

（1）上桌后不要先拿筷，应等主人邀请、主宾动筷时再拿筷。

（2）筷子不要伸得太长，更不要在菜盘里翻找自己喜欢的菜肴，应先将转台上自己想吃的菜转到自己眼前，再从容取菜。

（3）已经咬过的菜不要放回盘子里，应将其吃完。

（4）冷盘菜、海味、虾、蒸鱼等需要蘸调料的食物可自由调味，但切记勿将咬过的食物再放进调料盘中调蘸。(www.daowen.com)

（5）主人向客人介绍自家做的拿手菜或名厨做的菜，请大家趁热品尝时，不得争抢，应首先礼让邻座客人后，再伸筷取食。

（6）餐桌上不要有敲筷、咬筷等不雅动作。

（7）当其他客人还没吃完时，不要独自先离席。在宴会餐桌上，进餐速度快慢不要依个人习惯，而应适应宴会的节奏，等大家都吃完，主人起身，主宾离席时再致谢退席。

5.接待外宾吃中餐注意事项有：

（1）外宾上桌后，应首先询问客人是否会用或者喜欢用筷子，是否需要另配刀叉进餐。总之，要尊重客人的饮食习惯。

（2）席上使用餐具，千万不要再用餐巾纸或餐巾去擦拭，这是许多中国人用餐前的习惯，但这会使外宾认为餐具不洁，没有经过消毒处理而影响进餐情绪。

（3）每上一道菜，应主动向客人介绍食品制作原料及食用方法，因为中餐菜肴经过加工以后，已看不见食品本身原料，而外宾对许多中国人喜欢吃的菜肴（动物内脏、海鲜中的海参等）是拒绝食用的。

（4）给客人介绍菜点时，应尽量介绍其特色，而不要笼统地说这是中国的名菜、名点，外国人对于“著名”的认识与中国人有一定偏差。

（5）招待外宾千万不要说“没有什么菜”“招待不周”之类的客套话。这种中国式的谦虚会被他们误认为你对他们重视不够，而应当说“今天的菜肴是我夫人精心为你们准备的，希望你们吃得开心。”

Meals are an important part of life in China and big meals are an especially important aspect.It only follows that business meals are also an essential ingredient in life for entrepreneurs and their colleagues.However,just knowing they're important is not enough.Whether you're hosting or attending,these essential tips will help you survive and thrive at a Chinese business dinner or banquet.

According to a Chinese saying,“Fan zhuo shang bu tan sheng yi”which means“Don't talk about business at the dinner table.”That might seem to contradict reality,but the issues cleared up by another saying,“Fan chi hao le,sheng yi ye jiu hao le,”which essentially means,“Business can be easily done if you treat them to a good meal.”Hence the food and the company of the Chinese business meal is mostly a social lubricator—any talk of business won't start until long after the meal has begun,and is sometimes left for the end.Naturally,not too many negotiations are finalized and contracts signed during this time,but you can still use it to enlarge your social relationship,promote your business or deal with various problems.Even the social aspect itself is vital to doing business in China,as many businessmen and clients don't feel confident about working together until they've gotten to know the other.

There is no one-size-fits-all rule for business meals.They can be large or small,formal or informal,and the way a meal is structured will reflect how individuals prefer to do things.One thing is for certain,most people who host the meal will want to show off with abundant food and plenty of good rice wine.If you want to be a good host in China,or a good guest,have a look at some of the tips below.They were provided to us by a vice manager,a general manager and an administrator of sales and marketing at three different Chinese companies.They certainly know the ropes.In fact,they may have eaten through them.

If You Are a Host

Guest list

You should consider the status of the guests and the relationships between them.Chinese people value status greatly.The best way to respect this is to avoid inviting people of widely varying status.If most of the guests are managers of companies,avoid inviting staff of much higher or lower levels.Also,don't invite people who have poor relationships.You don't want to create embarrassment or disrupt the essential harmony which your Chinese colleagues will expect.

Invitations

Send your invitation in advance,and give the guests a certain period of time to respond.Because many Chinese people,especially those in high positions,don't like to reply immediately you will have to be patient and should expect to wait for your responses.

Culinary details

The location of your meal,the food and the drinks all need to be considered carefully.Often,but not always,secretaries take care of this.If your guests are familiar to you and each other,then you can easily arrange the meal according to their likes and dislikes.If you aren't very familiar with your guests don't select a restaurant which serves very unique food,select one which serves the most popular dishes.At the very least,seafood and decent rice wine will be expected as part of the feast.

Price

You will drop anywhere between several hundred and ten thousand RMB.

Greetings

Before your meal,you will want to introduce the guests to each other.Be careful to observe the social order—introduce lower status guests to higher status ones,and younger attendees to older ones.

Seating

Arrange your seats in order according to their different status.The common arrangement for a round table,is the host(that's you,remember)seated on the east,with the higher-status guests nearest to him and the rest in descending order.The common arrangement for a square or rectangular table is with the host seated facing the door with his high-status associates close by.However,if there is no door in sight,revert to the host-on-the-east arrangement.

Keep on toasting

To keep a happy atmosphere,there will be MANY toasts during the meal.As the host,you should expect to lead some of them.

Take your time

Don't talk about serious business early in the meal,it will create a tense atmosphere and lessen the pleasure.However,you can mention business from time to time during the meal,and keep note of the guests'responses.Remember,maintaining harmony is the most important thing.

Keep your seat

As the host,you don't want to leave your seat unless it's absolutely necessary.Therefore,it's better to arrange for one of your retinue to pay the bill at the end.To avoid embarrassment,don't pay the bill in front of your guests or let them know the cost.Some people like to fight to pay it even though they know they are guests.

If You Are a Guest

Preparation

Prepare your attire and have your business cards on hand.Even for an informal meal,don't dress too leisurely.On some occasions gifts are appropriate;rice wine and regular red wine are safe and appreciated.If you've brought a very expensive gift and no one else has brought one at all,avoid giving it to the host in front of the others as it might seem rude.

Communication

Before you go,think about what you will talk about during the meal.Since you will meet new people who may be helpful for your business,you should take every opportunity to leave a good impression on them.Mind your tone and way of talking.Boastfulness is frowned on in China.So is being overly-humble.

Food tastes

Chinese people don't usually tell their host what they don't like to eat since it would be considered impolite.However,if there is anything that could really make you sick,of course go ahead and notify your hosts in advance.

Presentation

You'll almost certainly be giving and receiving business cards during the meal.Don't forget to give your card in the Chinese way,with both hands holding it.When receiving a business card,look at both sides after taking it in your hands.Presentation is an art.

When to lead

You're going to have plenty of toasts during the meal.Don't try and lead a toast unless you are familiar with the other guests.Otherwise,people may think you are trying to show off.However,when the host toasts to you,you should toast back.

Manners

Familiarize yourself with Chinese table manners.Drinking alcohol may be universal at business meals,but avoid going on a bender.You will look foolish.

Business

Never talk about business before the host mentions it.

Toasts

In case you have the chance to make a toast,either as a host or a guest,here are a few traditional ones:

“Wèi hézuò yúkuài gānbēi”—“Toast to our good cooperation” “Wèi wànshì shùnlì gānbēi”—“Toast that everything goes smoothly”

“Wèi jiànkāng gānbēi”—“Toast to good health”

“Wèi shēngyì hónghuŏ gānbēi”—“Toast to our business getting better and better”

“Wèi chénggōng gānbēi”—“Toast to our success”