中西方餐桌礼仪与文化的对比与研究

天津工业大学毕业论文

中西方国家的餐桌礼仪与文化的对比分析

(申请文学学士学位>

院别：外国语学院

专业：英语

学生：王静楠

指导教师：王彤

职称：讲师

天津工业大学外国语学院

2018年6月

A contrastive Analysis of Table Manners and

Culture between China and Western

Countries

A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for

the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Wang Jingnan

Under the Supervision of

Wang Tong

Foreign LanguagesCollege

TianjinPolytechnicUniversity

June 2018

Contents

Acknowledgementsii

Abstractiii

Introduction1

Chapter 1 Comparison of the Different Performance of Table Manners between Chinese and Western countries2

1.1 The Different Seating Arrangement2

1.2 The Different Dinner Atmosphere3

1.3 The Different Dinner Etiquette4

Chapter 2 General View of Brand and Brand Names5

2.1 The Different Drinking Etiquette5

2.2 The Different Drinking Purpose6

Chapter 3 Comparison of Different Dietary Culture between China and Western Counties7

Conclusion9

Works Cited10

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me with this thesis. I really appreciate and thank for the help of my supervisor, Ms Wang, without her help and valuable instructions I can hardly complete this thesis. She patiently read every sentence of my humble article and gave inspiring advice to me. Not only should I thank for her kind assistance, also and more importantly I should learn her diligent and hardworking attitude. I also want to give my special thanks to all the professors in ForeignLanguageCollege, who have taught me precious academic knowledge and useful skills, so I can successfully complete this paper. All in all, I would love to say that sky is the limit to all the gratitude I want to show to all the generous and kind peoples who have been helping and supporting me without any complaints.

Abstract

With the constant development of global economy, the relation between China and Western countries is getting more and more closely connected regarding to politics, economy and culture. There is no doubt that etiquette plays an important role. And the dining table is one of the most important places where good manners are displayed. But great difference still exists between China and Western table manners, because of the differences in culture, history, customs and national character. People tend to show their best sides to others and avoid cultural conflicts. More attention should be paid on the difference between China Western table manners. But also they can communicate with other efficiently. Not only can people show that they are well-educated with the knowledge of the customs and decent and elegant behavior in a banquet, but also can they efficiently and smoothly communicate with others. When dining with foreigners, people will avoid conflicts with rich knowledge of the difference between Chinese and Western table manners. Great difference exists between China and Western countries in table manners. The research of the difference between Chinese and Western table manners will help people to learn language culture and improve the ability of communication in cross-culture practice.

Key words:Table manners。 table culture。 China and the West

摘要

随着经济全球化的不断发展，中国和西方国家在政治，经济和文化方面的关系变得越来越密切。毫无疑问的是礼仪起着非常重要的作用。而餐桌又是展示礼仪最重要的地方之一。但由于文化，历史，风俗习惯和民族性格的不同，中西方餐桌礼仪有很多的差异。在沟通的过程中，为了避免冲突，人们将展示他们最好的一面。每一个人都应该更加重视中西方餐桌礼仪的差异。人们应该了解一些必要的风俗习惯，注意行为举止要得体而优雅，在展示人们高素质的同时也能够促进人们之间的有效沟通。了解中西方餐桌礼仪的差异可以使我们在于外宾用餐时避免出现文化冲突。研究中西方餐桌礼仪差异可以帮助人们在学习语言文化的同时改善跨文化的沟通能力。

关键词：餐桌礼仪；餐桌文化；中西方

Introduction

With the constant development of global economy, the relation between China and Western countries is getting more and more closely connected regarding to politics, economy and culture. But great difference still exists between China and Western table manners, because of the differences in culture, history, customs and national character. Table manners reflect the differences between China and western countries whether on seating, dining atmosphere, drinking etiquette, drinking purpose or diet culture. As culture differs among different countries, the thinking model is clearly different between China and Western countries. The Western would be inclined to logic and analyze, but the East is emphasize one’s intuition. The different table manner between China and W estern is an important part of the differences between China and Western in culture. Animal husbandry culture and sea culture is the western traditional culture, but Chinese traditional culture is farming culture. Two different cultures reflect different life-styles. Knowing the differences people can easily understand the culture of each other. Confronting the differences, people shall fully understand and respect their habits and culture, and should remember that every culture is equal and there is no one prior to the other. Thus we can decently communicate with each other. Only recognizing cultural differences between China and western countries and making a reasonable and effective integration, can we establish a social cultural etiquette system of contemporary China and reach the ideal harmonious society.

Chapter 1 Comparison of the Different Performance of Table Manners between Chinese and Western countries

Human diet is closely related to the living environment. “What to eat?” is connected to the living environment, but the matter of “How to eat?” such as cooking, tableware and a series of table manners can reflect the different social life styles. In modern society, etiquette is everywhere. In addition to the professional etiquette in daily life, most people often ignore the dinner etiquette. Actually having dinner satisfies people’s physiological needs, as well as enriches their social experience. Table manners are very important for us which occupy a very important position in Chinese life style. Understanding the different requirements in etiquette can not only help them avoid being rude to others, but also make them behave elegantly at the table.

1.1The Different Seating Arrangement

According to Chinese table manners, the arrangement of seats embodies honor. The seats are arranged according to his/her age or social standing. There is a ancient Chinese custom of “Taking the right for upper”, which means that the right seat is just for the most respectful people for the distinguished guest or for the eldest member of a family. Nowadays, people are influenced by this tradition when they choose seats in a meeting or other social activities—take the right for uppers. In the Chinese banquets, people prefer to choose round table. The aged, who are considered to be distinguished guests, sits in the upper seat while the host will sit next to them. The aged guests will sit in sequence. But if there are two or more than two tables in a restaurant or in a hall, the main table will be taken both by the host and hostess. The social status of these people decides how far they sit from the main tables. More important people sit nearer to the main table, which is standardized. The status of those people who seat at the right table is higher than those who seat at the left. Sometimes the main table is in the center of the hall.

For example, if there is one table in a restaurant or in a hall, people usually sit according to this picture. And the number means the status of the seat.

1

2 3

7 8

9 10

6 5

4

Door

According to the western table manners, the hostess will make a speech of welcome when the table is set and food is prepared, the host will guide the gusts to their seats in turn. On some occasions, the cards with the last names of the guests will be put on the table except when there are more than on guests with the same surname. Under the situation “Mr. David White” and “Mr. Jimmy White” will be print on the card to make the distinction. If there are no seating cards, the hostess will show the guests the correct seats. “In the western countries, people will choose a long table in a banquet. Meanwhile right is supposed to be honor and left to be low status. The host and hostess sit together in the middle of the guests with the gentlemen sit near the host and the ladies near the hostess, others will follow the sequence. In casual parties, ladies always go first. Men should always sit on the left with women on the right away from the passageway when dining together. And the man shall let the woman sit inside. Two couples eating together, ladies shall sit against the wall in front of their husbands. Two men and a woman eat together, the men shall ask the woman to sit in the middle. Two people dine together, the older sits inside of the table well as men should help the ladies move the chairs and sit after the ladies.”

1.2 The Different Dinner Atmosphere

The biggest difference of dining atmosphere between Chinese and western countries is that Chinese sound more noisy but westerners tend to be quieter. When sitting at a table, most Chinese are voluble, caring and attentive, they like picking food mutually, advising dishes

for each other, toasting and enjoying delicious food. Only lively atmosphere can reflect master’s enthusiasm and sincerity. In china, sitting at a table together mea ns reunion, they will talk together, and if you don’t talk with your neighbors will be considered impolite. Although it is not a good way from the perspective of health, it conforms to Chinese people’s general state of mind-happy. It is a better way for communication. But be careful to speak or behave with propriety and etiquette and avoid mentioning things about other’s privacy or something shallow, vulgar or some topics that other guests are not interested in. Of course, westerners also talk with others at the table, and they should control the voice so as not to affect other people. But they don’t talk to much personal problems, because they think that it is impolite. Westerners always concentrate on cutting the food on the plate at table quietly. Everyo ne’s food is in front of them, they can help themselves. Everyone having his own food is regarded as indifferent by Chinese but westerners think it is healthful and civilized

1.3The Different Dinner Etiquette

Both Chinese and westerners pay more attention to table manners. In China, the guests begin their meal after the hosts toast. When you are talking with others, put down chopsticks otherwise it will be regarded as impolite. And don’t put the chopsticks upright in the rice, because it is only used in shrine of the dead time. At Chinese dinner table, the chopsticks should put orderly at the right side of the bowl, and leave after the host signals to leave. Hosts should signal after all the guests put down their chopsticks.

In the Western countries, the guests would put all the plates up together so that others know they have finished the dinner. Here are some tips for you: don’t put used plates or bowls。don’t take any leftover unless you are in public restaurants, even the host shall not keep asking the guests to take home。don’t put your napkin casually on the table near your plates unless you finished your meal, otherwise, put the napkin on your chair instead。 rise from the table after the host and hostess to show respect to them。 don’t stay too long aft er you finished the desert or other after-dinner food. The party who first wished to end the event should rise and say something like, “This has been such a nice evening. We hope we can see you again soon.”

Chapter 2General View of Brand and Brand Names

Wine is regarded as the precious gift God gives human beings and it plays an important role in people’s daily life. With different lifestyle, drinking history, wine traditions and some specific social criteria, and the wine culture hold different meaning in different countries. There are many similarities and difference in wine culture between the Eastern and the Western, understanding them not only can help people succeed in intercultural communication but also can improve the understanding of the history and culture.

2.1The Different Drinking Etiquette The drinking etiquette is absolutely different between China and Western countries. Perhaps the greatest difference lays to strongly demanding others to drink in a banquet. The Chinese are so good at urging others to drink that it would be much more alive for a group of Chinese to get together. Though trying their best to ask others to drink not seems good, it actually stands for Chinese people’s hospitality. China has this tradition of urging others to drin k long time ago. A Chinese would say he/she can’t drink before dinner while the host would insist on asking them to drink to show their hospitality. Moreover, Chinese would pay special attention to propose a toast which has a special tradition too and can’t be broken. The host starts the first toast to welcome the guests, then the guests return the toast in exchange to thank the host, at last the gusts can propose toast to each other. The order to propose a toast also depends on their age and social status. Generally speaking, the toasts have to be proposed among almost everyone in the banquet and following strict custom rules. Because the influence of Chinese traditional culture, everyone would make their cups to be lower than others to show their humility. And in some regions of China, people also make their cups knocking table gentle to show their respect to others at the table.

In the Western countries, people are very particular about being democratic and feeling free, so they will not urge or persuade others to do things at a banquet. They will serve themselves to drink when they want to and they always eat freely and independently. They wouldn’t make themselves uncomfortable. At a banquet, the host will not push the guest to

drink unless he/she wants to. When Westerners take a party to drink together, the host would propose a toast to welcome the guests and hope they will enjoy the party. Special attention is paid on wine tasting for the Westerners. They usually pour not much wine to the cup so they can enjoy the fragrance and great color of the wine.

2.2 The Different Drinking Purpose Both Chinese and westerners love drinking wine, but the different cultures cause different drinking purpose. In general, Chinese drink wine with strong utilitarian, often drinking for a special purpose. As the contrast, westerners tend to enjoy the tasty when they are drinking.

In china, drinking is often used as a tool of developing personal relationship. When people want to do something together with others, drinking is the most useful tool to help him to understand others. Chinese believe that during drinking, especially when drinking white spirit, people express their feelings more easily. Ou Yangxiu(Beisong Dynasty> has a famous saying in his essay “Man is not intereste d in drinking wine but in appreciating the beautiful scenery between the hills and water.” When people deal with business or political negotiations or other important issues, drinking can ease the tense atmosphere and give people more time to think countermeasures in the fast changing situations. People think that all the feelings can be expressed through drinking no matter happy or not, successful or unsuccessful, collective or separate. Chinese always prefer to express and release their feelings through drinking and also get response in this way.

For westerners, drinking is only for relax and seeking pursuing personal pleasure and they scarcely drink for expressing feelings no matter happy or not. The drinking purpose of the westerners is very simple—enjoys the wine and drinking. Certainly, westerners will also drink together to have interpersonal communication, but people care more about enjoying the taste of wine.

Chapter 3Comparison of Different Dietary Culture between China and WesternCounties

The culture difference between China and the West leads to the difference of Chinese and Western table manners. And the differences are caused by different think models between China and western countries. Chinese pay attention to “oneness of man and nature”, but westerners focus on people-oriented.

In china, as the saying goes “Food is the basic of the people。 security is the basic of food.” So Chinese attach great importance to the diet. For Chinese, cooking is art, they attracted by cooking’s recreation an d fun. Chinese food is complicated, many dishes are time-consuming, it is the waste of raw materials and the effect is not really good. Chinese cooking is all a matter of experience and feelings. For example, “Yuxiang shredded pork”, different restaurants have different taste, and maybe the same dish is different because of different seasons, different occasions and different identity of customers. It reflects the fuzziness thinking mode of Chinese. The production process of the Western diet emphasizes standardized and scientific, in strict accordance with the requirements of the scientific norm in the whole process of cooking, the requirements of ingredients, seasoning and cooking time is very accurate. So there is a balance, liquid measuring cup, timer, and scale pan in the kitchen, condiment shelves are lined with dozens of seasoning bottle neat and uniform size, like a chemical laboratory. When people want to taste the local food in different places, certainly no one would choose like KFC and McDonald’s f ood, so the taste of KFC is same over the world. But it reflects the Westerners focus on empirical and the characteristics of the way of thinking in Western.

Both China and western countries have the order of serving which cannot be disrupted. In China, the first dishes are cold dishes, beverage and wine, then the hot dishes, next staple food, sweets and fruit at last. And Western serving steps are usually like this: bread and butter, cold dishes, soup, sea food, main course, dessert, coffee and fruit. They eat the cold dishes, soup and bread at the same time. Cold dishes also known as appetizer dish, served as the first course usually with an aperitif. And soup includes stains soup and

cream soup. The main course has fish, pork, beef and chicken and so on. Dissert usually has ice-cream, pudding etc.

In China, hosts would prepare a lot of food for guests before dining, and people can eat up all the food, but guests think this is a way to show their enthusiasm. But the guests always say “there is little to eat, please make it for eating.” or “this food is not very delicious, enjoy yourself.’ And when guests having food, hosts always use their own chopsticks to pick up food for guests, they think it is one way to make guests feel the warm from them. In western countries, the hosts never prepare too much food, and they never serve more than 6 dishes before the dining. The hosts hope their guests can eat up their food, because they think it means they like their food. Of course, it will make the hosts very happy.

In general, Chinese have little concept of time, they often be late for dinner more than 30mintues, but the hosts think it is very common and do not care too much. But for westerners, they think time is precious. In western countries, formal parties request arrive on time, and can’t be late more than 10 minutes, otherwise, it will be considered not respect the host and other guests.

Conclusion

As there are different cultures and customs between China and western countries, our education is d ifferent, too. Culture will affect people’s view on things. Different country has its different culture, so it is clearly that the thinking model is different between China and western countries. Western would be inclined to logic and analyze, but the eastern culture is emphasize one’s intuition. The different table manner between China and Western is an important part of the differences between China and Western in culture. Animal husbandry culture and sea culture is the western traditional culture, but Chinese traditional culture is farming culture. Two different cultures reflect the different in life-style. All the people reveal their own culture background in diet consciously or unconsciously. The different culture between China and western countries cause the differences between China and western countries in table manners and the differences are caused by China and Western thinking model. Chinese pay attention to “oneness of man and nature”, so Chinese attach importance to the amount and type of the food, rarely consider the nutrition of the meal. But westerners focus on people-oriented, they think that the appearance and taste is not the most important, the most important thing is health of the food. The differences of social background and historic culture lead to the different table manners between China and western countries, table manners are the reflections of living habit, but the living habit cannot be formed in a short time. So it is the sediment and extension of the historic culture.

With the development of economic globalization and exchange of information, the culture of China and Western table manners will converge in the collision。 complement each other in the fusion. So now the Chinese have begun to pay attention to the nutrition and health of the food and scientific cooking, and table manners also tend to civilized. There is no advanced and backward between two cultures, and the fusion of the two cultures will continue to breakthrough in the future world. Every culture in the world has its own essence, and every culture is equal. From the analysis of table manners and culture between China and western countries, we can find the advantages of the two cultures.

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