晚饭礼仪 Dinner Etiquette

When you visit the home of a Chinese friend or business acquaintance, there are some rules of etiquette that you should follow at the dinner table.  These will be similar if you are going out to eat at a restaurant.

Expect a large meal.  Even if the dinner is a simple one, the host will usually have several dishes or courses to serve.  If you begin to get full, it is fine to leave some food on your plate.  It would be considered rude of the host to not refill an empty plate, bowl, or tea cup.  The host will still tell you to eat more (吃多一点）but will get the message after you refuse several times.

When you compliment the host on the meal, expect them not to accept your praise.  They will say things like 没什么菜 it was nothing special or 哪里哪里 where, where implying the dinner was a simple affair.

During the meal, it is acceptable to slurp your soup, belch, and shovel food such as rice with your chopsticks.  You can also stab items, such as cut melons, with your chopsticks.  Do NOT tap the table with your chopsticks, use them as drumsticks, or place them straight up in your plate of food.

When the time comes to leave, the host will walk you out.  As Americans, it is common to say goodbye at the door and be on your way.  In China, the host will not only accompany you to the street but also wait as you get in a cab, your car, or on the subway.  This is not seen as a waste of time, but as the duty of the host.