chopsticks 101
chopstick etiquette
Knowing the basics of chopsticks is important, but at the same time it’s important to realize that chopstick etiquette varies from country to country. It’s not as simple as learning how to pick up food. In order to use them correctly, one has to know how to use them so as not to offend whoever is watching.
CHINA: In Chinese culture, it is considered polite to hold the bowl of rice while using chopsticks to push the rice into the mouth. It is improper to stab food with chopsticks (though there are exceptions such as kimchi and fish balls) and to make noise with them. Chopsticks should also never be left stuck vertically in a bowl, as this suggests death. KOREA: Unlike most East Asian cultures, in Korea it is considered impolite to pick the bowl up off the table to bring it closer to the mouth. This is why people in Korea rarely use chopsticks to eat rice, and they use the specially designed Korean spoon instead. Chopsticks must never be laid to the left of a spoon, as this is only done at funerals. In Korea, spoons are almost always used with chopsticks for eating food. JAPAN: Food should not be transferred from one pair of chopsticks to another, nor should anyone use their own chopsticks to grab food from a shared plate. Chopsticks should never be placed on the table crossed, and the pointed ends should be placed on a chopstick rest, because these also represents death and funeral rites.
VIETNAM: Rice is put in plates and eaten with chopsticks, because Vietnamese rice is usually quite sticky. Chopsticks should not be sucked on or bitten. HONG KONG: The elder of the family picks up his or her chopsticks first. Serving chopsticks are commonly used but don’t use chopsticks backwards. Placing chopsticks on top of the bowl means you’re finished while placing them to the side of the bowl means you’re just “taking a break” from eating. HOW TO USE THEM: Most of you, at some point in your lives, have probably attempted to use chopsticks. In case you still don’t know how, here are the basic steps: 1. Hold one chopstick like you would hold a pencil., pointer finger resting on top. 2. Put the second chopstick underneath the first chopstick, putting your middle finger slightly between the two chopsticks. 3. Use your pointer finger and ring
finger to move the chopsticks in a tong-like fashion. 4. Enjoy your meal...and don’t forget proper etiquette!
one more thing How to Say “Chopsticks” in Four Different Languages VERY TOP: The word on the tea cup, “fu”, means luck. ABOVE: Chopstick holders are found most commonly in Japan.
Food Junkie Issue 1
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...just in case you’re lost in some Asian country and there are no forks in sight (though that’s probably not the worst case scenario). In Chinese, chopsticks is “kuai zi”, “kuai” meaning quick. In Korean, “jeo” means chopsticks, and used in the compound “jeokkarak”. In Japanese, chopsticks are called “hashi”, but more commonly known as “otemoto”. In Vietnamese, chopsticks are known as “dua”.