Culture

Chopsticks

Different from the westerners, Chinese are used to use chopsticks as their tableware rather than knife and fork since the ancient times. In the prehistoric times, people used branches of trees and bamboos to pick up the fired food to avoid being burnt, for there was no metal ware then. Later, chopsticks, evolving from the primitive branches, was used to eaten all kinds of food by Chinese people. Chinese people can use a pair of chopsticks made up of two thin sticks in various ways, including picking, moving, nipping, mixing and digging.

Using chopsticks do needs skills. Firstly, chopsticks usually have two ends, one is round which is the head, and the other is square the handle. The correct way is to hold the handle in the hand and use the head to pick up the dishes. Then, handle the two pieces of sticks between the thumb and the index finger, hold one of the chopsticks in place and use the other to pick. Don’t forget to check if the heads of the two chopsticks are even before using, if not, tap them even on the plates. For foreigners, the most difficult is using chopsticks to eat rice. The tips are putting the bowl near your mouth and using the chopsticks in the way of digging.

Additionally, there are some taboos when using chopsticks. For instance, they can’t be put on the table uneven, or it is considered ill-boding; handling the chopsticks with thumb, middle finger, ring finger and little finger is unaccepted, for it is impolite in China ; containing the chopsticks in mouth and making some sizzle is regarded as lacking of family education.