Table Etiquette

The Basics

Introduction

Table manners play an important part in making a good impression.

Here are some basic tips to help you…

Table manners 餐桌禮儀Impression 印象Tips 訣竅

Sitting down

At a very formal dinner name cards will show you where you should sit.

If there are no name cards on the tables, the host will take you to the correct place.

Name card 名牌Host 男主人 ( 東道主 )

Sitting down

If you are at a romantic dinner, the man should push the woman’s chair in for her.

Sometimes the waiter will do this.

Let’s Practice!

Sit down please!

Using the napkin

Place the napkin on your lap.

– If it is small – unfold it completely.

– If it is big – fold it in half, lengthwise.

Napkin 餐巾

Using the napkin

The napkin stays on your lap the whole time.

If you need to leave the table during the meal, place your napkin on your chair as a signal to your server that you will come back.

Lap 膝部Signal 信號 ; 暗號Server 服務生

Using the napkin

You should only dab your lips and should not make the napkin dirty.

Dab 輕搽

Using the napkin

Once the meal is over, you too should place your napkin loosely on the table to the right of your dinner plate.

Loosely 鬆弛地 ; 零散地Reveal 展現 ; 顯露出

Using the napkin

It should not be crumpled or twisted, which reveal untidiness or nervousness.

Nor should it be folded, which might show that you think your host might reuse it without washing.

Untidiness 凌亂 ; 無條理性Nervousness

Using the napkin

There is a European superstition that a diner who leaves the napkin on his chair will never sit at that table again.

Superstition 迷信 ; 迷信行為Diner 用餐的人

Let’s Practice!

Take the napkin and put it on your lap.

Ordering

If there is something you don’t understand on the menu, ask your server any questions you may have. Answering your questions is part of the server’s job.

Ordering

An employer will generally let you order first; his or her order will be taken last. Sometimes, however, the server will decide who orders first. Often, women’s orders are taken before men’s.

Order 點菜Decide 決定

Ordering

As a guest you should not order one of the most expensive items on the menu or more than two courses unless your host shows that it is all right.

Guest 客人Course 一道菜

The Menu

Read the menu to decide what you want to eat.

Decide 決定

The Menu

Let’s Practice!

Read the dialogue and practice ordering food.

The Table Setting

Side PlateDinner Plate

Soup Bowl

The Table Setting

Dessert Spoon

Soup Spoon

Butter Knife

Dinner Fork

Dinner Knife

Salad Fork

Dessert 餐後甜點 Butter 奶油

The Table Setting

White Wine Glass

Red Wine Glass

Champagne Glass

Champagne 香檳酒

The Table Setting

Setting 擺設

Using the knives, forks and spoons

In most restaurants you will only find one knife and one fork on the table.

If there are more than one, you should use the one on the “outside” first.

Using the knives, forks and spoons

There are two ways to use a knife and a fork:

– The American Style

– The European Style

The American Style

When you need to cut something, you should hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand.

After cutting off a small piece, you put your knife and fork down, pick the fork up with your right hand and eat it.

The European Style

When you need to cut something, you should hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand.

After cutting off a small piece, you put the food directly into your mouth with your left hand.

Using the knives, forks and spoons

When you hold the knife or fork, you should relax your fingers.

Never let the knife, fork or spoon touch the table after you started eating.

Using the knives, forks and spoons

When you take a break from eating, you simply put your knife and fork on the plate.

When you have finished eating, you should put your knife and fork together pointing to the left.

Let’s practice!

Look carefully how to hold a knife and a fork

Practice the American and European styles

Posture

Sit up straight with your arms near your body.

Don’t put your elbows on the table.

posture 姿勢 ; 姿態elbow 肘部

Taking something out of your mouth

Food should go out the same way it went in.

Your may take fish bones out with your hand.

Eating Soup

Dip the spoon in the soup away from your body.

Sip the liquid from the side of the spoon.

Don’t put the whole spoon in your mouth.

Liquid 液體 ; 湯液

Eating Bread

Take some butter and put it on the plate.

Break a piece of bread off with your hand.

Put some butter on the small piece.

Don’t spread the butter over the whole piece of bread.

Spread 塗 ; 敷

“Please pass the salt”

If somebody asks you to pass the salt, you should pick up both the salt and the pepper.

Put them on the table near the person next to you.

Do not use the salt before you pass it on.

Pass 傳遞

When you have finished

When you leave the table at the end of the meal, place your napkin loosely next to your plate.