說到吃，大家都喜歡，可是你在餐桌上的舉止是否得體呢?生長在一個擁有幾千年文明的國度里，大家可一定要了解一下咱們中華民族的餐桌禮儀。

　　Exploring Chinese Culture - Dinner Etiquette

　　大圓桌上的轉(zhuǎn)盤用英語怎么說?

　　圓桌上哪個位置是主位?

　　如何教老外使用筷子?

　　中國飲食在世界上是很有名的。

　　I believe the Chinese food is famous around the world.

　　假如你來到中國，中國朋友請你吃飯，你就需要了解一下有關(guān)宴會中的座次問題。

　　And if you are in China and you are asked by your Chinese friend to a dinner, you may want to know how to pick up your seat at the table and what is the proper way to sit at the table.

　　這個位子一般是主位，是主人的。

　　Well, normally this seat is the seat for the host or the hostess.

　　這個位子面朝著門。(面朝著門的一般是主位。)

　　The seat is facing the door of this room.

　　也可以根據(jù)餐巾的樣式來辨別座位。

　　One may also distinguish the seats at the table from the style in which the napkins are folded.

　　無論餐巾折成什么樣式，最高的餐巾對應(yīng)的座位，一定是主位。

　　Regardless of how the napkins are arranged.，the tallest arrangement will always correspond to the master seat.

　　一張坐四五個人的小桌子，與主人的座位相對應(yīng)的背對著門的那個位置則是被邀請的主客坐的位置。

　　At the small table, a table for four of five, the seat right across of the host seat, the seat over there, the back of which is facing the door is the seat for the main guest.

　　當(dāng)然如果桌子大一點的時候，比如說可以坐十到十二個人的桌子，由于主人和客人說話不太方便，跨越桌子就像跨越一片大海一樣，所以他們可以挨著坐，這種情況下是可以挨著坐的，這樣坐主人和客人說話更方便一些。

　　But usually of course, when it’s a bigger table, a table for ten or twelve, and it is not easy for host or hostess talking with the main guest, right across the table like right across the ocean and they can just sit side by side which can make it easier for them to talk.

　　我想你也注意到了在桌子上還有一個小桌子，就是可以轉(zhuǎn)動的這個。

　　And on the table I suppose you have noticed that there is something like this, it’s a smaller table on the big table.

　　可以叫它Lazy Susan。

　　And I suppose you call it Lazy Susan.

　　Lazy Suzan

　　對，它可以方便客人夾菜。

　　Yeah, this can make things easier for us.

　　因為在中國的宴席上，我們并不是誰點的菜誰吃。

　　Because in the Chinese way of having food，we don’t order our own food.

　　而是為所有人點菜，大家一起分享食物。

　　We order for everybody and everybody shares the food on the table.

　　我們經(jīng)常會采取桌上的人每人點一個菜的方式。

　　And usually we can have each of the people at the table to order one of the dishes.

　　那么如果我想吃的菜在桌子的另一邊，比如說我想吃雞肉，我就可以轉(zhuǎn)動這個小桌子，讓雞肉轉(zhuǎn)到我這一邊來。

　　So what if something I want is on the other side of the table, for instance if I want the chicken, so I can turn the Lazy Susan and turn the chicken to my side.

　　這樣不用站起來就可以夠到菜，因為站起來夾菜是不禮貌的。

　　I can just pick it up without standing up and reaching out which is not proper or polite in Chinese table manner.

　　另外還要注意當(dāng)別人夾菜的時候，這個時候你最好不要轉(zhuǎn)動這個小桌子。

　　And of course when someone else picks the dishes you are not gonna turn the table at that time, turn lazy Susan at that time.

　　你知道為什么我坐在這兒而不是坐在那兒嗎?

　　And do you know why I just sit hear rather than there?

　　因為坐在那兒的人要負責(zé)買單。

　　Because the one sitting there is gonna pay the bill.

　　中國的宴席中一般都有敬酒的習(xí)俗。

　　Most Chinese people have the tradition of making toasts at banquets.

　　敬酒的順序通常要按照年齡先長后幼、職位由高到低或者先主賓后次賓的順序。

　　The order on the toast may be based on age from the eldest to the youngest by social position from high to low, or by guest status from principal to secondary.

　　只有充分考慮到敬酒的順序，才能達到敬酒的效果，使大家皆大歡喜。

　　Only if the individual proposes the toast in a correct and reasonable manner, would the toast be well received and appreciated.

　　在宴席上飲酒的過程中，隨時都可以敬酒，而且可以向同一個人多次敬酒。

　　One may propose a toast at any time throughout the meal, and making several toasts to one person is acceptable as well.

　　當(dāng)杯中的飲料少于一半時，主人通常會為客人斟滿。

　　If the guests’ glasses are less than half full, the host will help refill glasses for them.

　　斟酒的次序同敬酒的次序一樣也是有長幼高低之分的。

　　The order in which this takes place is similar to that of proposing toasts, placing those of higher social status first.

　　在與長輩或地位高的人碰杯時，人們?yōu)榱吮硎咀约旱闹t虛和對對方的尊敬，往往會讓自己的杯口低于對方的杯口。

　　When people make a toast to a person superior, they usually make sure that rim of their glass clinks at position lower than rim of the other person’s glass, which expresses respect and modesty.

　　為了表示熱情，主人通常還會不停地勸客人多吃一點。

　　To show good hospitality, the host usually urge the guest to eat more.

　　遇到孩子或者特別親近的人，甚至還會親自為客人夾菜。

　　For children, relatives or close friends, they will even serve the dishes themselves.

　　客人通常要友好地接受，并且表示感謝。

　　The guests are supposed to accept the serving and kindly show their appreciation.

　　即使遇到自己不喜歡吃的菜，也不要拒絕，放到自己盤子一邊就可以了。

　　Even if they do not like the particular dish, they do not refuse the serving as simply accept it and leave it at side of their plate.

　　另外，在中國的飯店吃飯可以不用另外付小費。

　　Eating in the restaurant in China, tips are not necessary.

　　干杯

　　Bottom up! 【Drink up! / Cheers!】

　　買單

　　Pay the bill.

　　餐巾

　　napkin