商務(wù)禮儀；差異；價(jià)值觀；時(shí)間觀；語言習(xí)慣

PAGE21摘要在全球經(jīng)濟(jì)一體化的進(jìn)程中，我們同世界各國的商務(wù)活動(dòng)越來越頻繁，在商務(wù)活動(dòng)中,商務(wù)禮儀起著非常重要的作用。它反映了一個(gè)民族在人際交往中的價(jià)值觀和基本原則。在中西方商務(wù)交流中，不同的場合遵循不同的商務(wù)禮儀，應(yīng)對(duì)其進(jìn)行一定的研究與探討以保證有效地溝通。從商務(wù)禮儀的定義出發(fā)，分析了中西方商務(wù)禮儀的特點(diǎn)。通過對(duì)比分析的方法，從問候禮儀、名片禮儀、商務(wù)宴請(qǐng)和商務(wù)拜訪四個(gè)方面對(duì)中西方商務(wù)禮儀進(jìn)行了研究。隨后闡述了導(dǎo)致中西方商務(wù)禮儀差異的原因：價(jià)值觀、時(shí)間觀、語言習(xí)慣，并指出只有充分了解并掌握中西方商務(wù)禮儀的具體差異，才能進(jìn)行有效的溝通與商務(wù)往來。關(guān)鍵詞：商務(wù)禮儀；差異；價(jià)值觀；時(shí)間觀；語言習(xí)慣AbstractIntheprocessofglobaleconomicintegration,ourbusinessactivitieswithothercountriesaremoreandmorefrequent.Businessetiquetteplaysaveryimportantroleinbusinessactivities.Itreflectsanation’svaluesandbasicprinciplesininterpersonalcommunication.InbusinesscommunicationbetweenChinaandwesterncountries,differentoccasionsfollowdifferentbusinessetiquette,whichshouldbestudiedanddiscussedtoensureeffectivecommunication.Startingfromthedefinitionofbusinessetiquette,thecharacteristicsofbusinessetiquettebetweenChinaandwesterncountriesareanalyzed.Throughcomparativeanalysis,businessetiquetteisstudiedinfourrespects:greetingetiquette,businesscards,businessbanquetandbusinessvisiting,andthenthecausesofdifferencesinbusinessetiquettebetweenChinaandwesterncountriesarepointedout:values,conceptsoftimeandlanguagehabits,andpointsoutthatonlybyfullyunderstandingandmasteringthespecificdifferencesofbusinessetiquettebetweenChinaandwesterncountries,canpeopleeffectivelycommunicateandbusinesscontacts.Keywords：businessetiquette；differences；values；conceptsoftime；languagehabitsContents3731摘要 I10188Abstract II6197Introduction 120590ChapterOneIntroductionofBusinessEtiquette 246931.1TheDefinitionofBusinessEtiquette 2143631.2TheCharacteristicsofBusinessEtiquette 217091ChapterTwoDifferencesofBusinessEtiquetteBetweenChinaandWesternCountries 5132002.1GreetingEtiquette 5247812.1.1WaysofGreeting 511112.1.2FormsofAddress 6228852.1.3ContentsofGreeting 758662.2BusinessCards 8300172.2.1ContentsofBusinessCard 9283502.2.2UsagesofBusinessCard 9310242.3BusinessBanquet 1060952.3.1TabooofBusinessBanquet 10230422.3.2UsageofTableware 11290302.3.3MethodsofStoppingMeals 12104142.3.4SeatingOrder 1210702.4BusinessVisiting 13165352.4.1AppointmentofTime 13260672.4.2ChoiceofGift 1420774ChapterThreeReasonsforDifferencesofBusinessEtiquette 16324523.1Values 16258793.2ConceptsofTime 16273373.3LanguageHabits 1823838Conclusion 1916599Bibliography 2023647Acknowledgements 20IntroductionChinaisanancientcivilization,knownasthenationofetiquette.Inthe21stcentury,therelationshipbetweencountriesandpeopleiscloser.Etiquettehasbecomeanessentialelementinourdailylifeandwork.Itcanshowtheinnerself-cultivation,temperamentandtasteofourown.Withthedeepeningofreformandopeningup,developingofmarketeconomy,andtheincreasingofforeigntrade,peoplefromdifferentbackgroundshavemoreandmorecommonbusinesscontacts.Therefore,peopleshouldbefamiliarwithknowledgeanddifferencesofbusinessetiquetteindifferentcountries,whichwillhavealastinginfluencetoavoidmisunderstanding,embarrassmentandunnecessarytroubles.Atthesametime,peopleshouldunderstandthedifferencesofbusinessetiquettebetweenChinaandwesterncountries,whichwillhelpthemcommunicateandcooperatewithpeoplefromwesterncountries.Inaddition,fromapersonalpointofview,learningthedifferencesofbusinessetiquettebetweenChineseandwesterncountriesisconducivetohelppeopletounderstandtherelevantvocabularyandknowledgeandimprovepeople’spersonalaccomplishmentandinterpersonalrelationsininternationalcommunications,whichcanprovidepeopleinterestedinbusinessetiquettewithreferenceanddeepentheirunderstandingofthedifferencesofbusinessetiquettebetweenChineseandwesterncountries.Fromtheperspectiveofenterprises,learningthedifferencesofbusinessetiquettebetweenChineseandwesterncountriescanshapetheimageofenterprises,improvethesatisfactionandreputationofcustomers,andfinallyachievethepurposeofenhancingtheeconomicandsocialbenefitsofenterprises.Throughcomparativeanalysis,businessetiquettehasbeenstudiedinfourrespects:greetingetiquette,businesscards,businessbanquetandbusinessvisiting,andthenthecausesofdifferencesinbusinessetiquettebetweenChinaandwesterncountriesarepointedout:values,conceptsoftimeandlanguagehabits.Therefore,itisbeneficialforthereaderstostrengthentheirunderstandingofthedifferencesofbusinessetiquettebetweenChinaandwesterncountries,andpromotetheireffectivecommunicationinbusinessactivities.ChapterOneIntroductionofBusinessEtiquetteAsacommonsayinggoes,businessisasfierceaswar.Inbusinesscontacts,pleasantconversationandproperbehavioralnormarethekeystosuccessinbusinessactivities.Therefore,havingaprofoundandextensiveknowledgeofbusinessetiquetteisessentialtosucceedinbusinessexchanges.1.1TheDefinitionofBusinessEtiquetteWhatisbusinessetiquette?Whentalkingaboutetiquette,thereareactuallyavarietyofspecificcategories.Theso-calledbusinessetiquetteisactuallytheetiquetteapplicableinbusinesscommunication.JinZhengkunoncesaid:“Businessetiquetteisakindofetiquettestandardthatmustbefollowedbybusinesspeoplewhoareengagedinbusinessactivities.”Itcanbeseenthatbusinessetiquetteandotheretiquetteareverydifferent.Ithasitsapplicablepeople:businessmen.Ithasascopeofapplication:businesscontacts.Themostimportantdifferenceisintheobjectofapplication.Thebasicobjectofbusinessetiquetteistheemployeesofthecompany.Inotherwords,itismainlyapplicabletoaspecialkindofinterpersonalcommunicationineconomicandtradeactivities.Inaddition,RobertPound,theAmericanimagedesignmaster,said,“Youroveralldisplay:clothing,body,faceandattitudeopensthedooroftriumphandvictoryforyou,andyourpresenceconveysyourauthority,credibilityandpopularitytotheworld.”Indeed,inpeople’scommunication,especiallyinbusinessactivities,peoplewithgoodmannerswillnotonlyleaveagoodimpressiononeachother,butalsomakebothsidesfeelhappy,createagoodcommunicationatmosphere,andlayasolidfoundationforthecooperationofbothsides,whilebehaviorsthatdonotconformtotheetiquettenormswillleaveabadimpressioninaninvisibleway.Tosummarize,businessetiquettereferstothespecificapplicationofetiquetteinthebusinessindustry.Itmainlyreferstothecodeofbehaviorthatbusinessmenshouldstrictlyabidebyintheirjobsandreflectsmutualrespectinbusinessactivities.1.2TheCharacteristicsofBusinessEtiquetteTherearedifferencesofbusinessetiquetteindifferentplacesandperiods,buttheyallhavesimilarcharacteristics.Thebasiccharacteristicsofbusinessetiquettearemainlyreflectedinthefollowingaspects.First,normalization.Itmeansthatpeoplemustabidebycertaincodesofconductwhendealingwithothers.Thisnormativenaturenotonlyrestrictspeople’sspeechandbehaviorinbusinessoccasions,butalsoisa“commonlanguage”thatpeoplemustadoptinallbusinessoccasions.Itisayardsticktomeasureothers,andtojudgewhetheroneisself-disciplinedandrespectfulornot.Forexample,peoplehavetheirownpreferenceinwearingclothesandhats.Itisaverycommonphenomenontowearcasualclothes,butnotforimportantoccasionsinbusinesscontacts.Whenwearingasuit,youshouldwearleathershoesandtieinnecessaryoccasion.Second,variability.Everythingintheworldhasitsownprocessofemergence,formation,developmentandevolutionaswellasbusinessetiquette.Ithasitsowntrackandcontentofemergenceanddevelopment.However,withthedevelopmentofsocietyandtheneedofbusinessactivities,businessetiquetteisconstantlychanging.Businesscommunicationisnolongerconfinedtotraditionalwaysofcommunication.ThewideuseofnewtechnologiessuchaselectronicsandtheInternethavechangedthemainwaysforbusinesspeopletogreet,applyforjobsandhandlebusiness.Correspondingelectronictechnologyetiquettehasalsoemerged,andplaysanimportantroleinbusinesscommunication.Forexample,inbusinessinvitation,abusinessmancanusethecommunicationtoolsoftelephoneande-mailtoinvite.Whenface-to-facemeetingsarenotpossible,peoplecanusenetworkvideoformeeting.Third,diversity.Noonecantellexactlyhowmanykindsofbusinessetiquettearethereintheworld.Moreover,differentcountriesandregions,differentculturalbackgroundsanddifferentoccasionshavedifferentconnotationsandexpressionsofbusinessetiquette.Takethemeetingetiquetteinbusinessoccasionsasanexample,theetiquetteindifferentcountriesisnaturallydifferent.Somecountrieslikehuggingandkissing,whileothersdonotacceptit.Forexample,Americanspreferkissingandhugging;thetraditionaletiquettepopularinancientChinaisthehandshake,whichisgraduallytransformedintohandshakeinmoderntimes;inSouthKorea,NorthKoreaandJapan,bowismorepopular.Finally,commonality.Despitethediversityofbusinessetiquette,ithasitsownrulesandnormstofollowfromtheperspectiveofitsownregularitiesandcommonalities,forexample,thanks,sorry,goodbyeandpolitelanguage,andcelebrationceremony,signingceremonyprocess,etc.Itisthiskindofcommonalitythatmakesbusinesscontactsmoresmoothamongcountries,nationsandregions.Ifpeoplewanttogetsucceededinthebusinessetiquette,communicationskills,especiallybusinessetiquettewillbevital.Etiquetteisthemostimportantfactorinsuccessfuljobperformance,especiallyinbusinessactivities.ChapterTwoDifferencesofBusinessEtiquetteBetweenChinaandWesternCountriesForbusinesspeoplewhoparticipateinbusinessactivitiesinChinaandwesterncountries,beingacquaintingwithbusinessetiquetteindifferentcountriesandmasteryofcommunicationskillsareimportantpartsofbusinessactivities.Inmostmodernenterprises,learningthedifferencesofbusinessetiquetteisnotonlyanecessaryability,butalsoanimportantmeanstoimprovethecorecompetitiveness.Inmodernsociety,businesspeopleinteractwithothersmoreandmorefrequentlyandhaveclosercontactswitheachother.Usingproperbusinessetiquettenotonlyreflectsone’spoliteness,butalsocontributestothesmoothcommunicationandthesuccessofhiscareer.InordertoshowthedifferencesofbusinessetiquettebetweenChinaandwesterncountries,thischapterwillanalyzethedifferencesfromthefollowingfouraspects.2.1GreetingEtiquetteGreetinglanguageplaysaveryimportantroleinbusinessetiquette.Thepurposeofgreetingisnotonlytoestablishormaintainsocialcontact,butalsotoreflectthegreatdifferencesbetweenChinaandwesterncountries.WhetherinChinaorthewest,peoplewillgreeteachotherwhenevertheymeet.Inordertomakereadersbetterunderstandthegreetingetiquette,thissectionmakesacomparativestudyfromthreeaspects.2.1.1WaysofGreetingDifferentcountrieshavetheirownstepsandhabitsofgreeting,sotherearegreatdifferencesinwaysofgreetingbetweenChinaandwesterncountries.Intermsofgreetingetiquette,Chinesepeopleusuallylikenodding,shakinghandsorshakinghandswithslightlybowing,theyregardhandshakeasabasicetiquette.Inthewest,especiallyinEuropeanandAmericancountries,hugisaverycommonetiquetteofmeetinganddeparting.Inwesterncountries,face-to-faceetiquette,kissingetiquetteandhand-kissingetiquettearethefirstetiquettetomeet,whichmaymakeChinesepeopleuncomfortable.Themostcommonnon-verbalhabitinbusinessisshakinghands.Chinesepeopleprefershakinghands.Chineseregardhandshakeasabasicetiquette,andtherearenotmanyrestrictionsonhandshakeinChina.Westernersshakehandswithspecificetiquette,forexample,thewomanextendsherhandfirstbetweenamanandawoman,ifthewomandoesnotwanttoshakehands,themancanonlynoddingandbowing;theelderoffershishandfirstbetweentheelderandtheyounger;thesuperiorextendhishandfirstbetweenthesuperiorandtheinferior;thehostreachesouthishandfirstbetweentheguestsandthehost.Andwhenshakinghands,oneshouldlookateachotherandtakeoffhisgloves,otherwiseitwillbeconsideredimpolite.Inwesterncountries,whentwopeopleshakehands,onewillimmediatelyreleaseeachother’shand,thuscreatingacertaindistance.Inordertoexpresstheirenthusiasmandrespecttootherpeople,theChinesepeopleoftenholdtheirhandsforalongtimeandspendtimewithsatisfiedgossip.Sometimestheymaybeateachother’sshouldersandbacks,whilewesternerswillfeelembarrassedwhendoingso.Theywillfeelveryintimateiftheyaretooclosetoeachother.ItcanbeseenfromtheabovethatunderstandingthewaysofgreetingetiquetteinbusinessactivitiesbetweenChinaandwesterncountriescanavoidtheembarrassmentofcommunicationandleaveagoodimpressionforthefirstmeeting.2.1.2FormsofAddressAddressformsarethepreludetobusinesscontactsandthebridgetobuildfriendshipwithothers.Inbusinessoccasions,especiallywhenmeetingforthefirsttime,properaddressmaylayagoodfoundationforfuturecontacts.Whenmeetingforthefirsttime,oneshoulduseappropriatetermsofaddresstoleaveapositiveimpressionwithpartnersfromothercountries.Ifnotaddressedproperly,itwillmaketheotherdispleased,whichaffecttherelationshipbetweeneachotherandevenaffectsthesuccessofcommunication.InChina,onlypeoplewhoarefamiliarwitheachotherandclosetoeachothercanbecalledbytheirfirstnames.Wemusthaveacleardistinctionbetweenseniorityandoldageinothercases,otherwisewewillbeconsideredrude.Forexample,Whenaddressingaperson’soccupation,oneoftenaddshisoccupationalnameafterhissurname,suchasDirectorPan,PresidentLiu,ManagerYangandsoon,whichisasymbolofidentityandstatus.However,inthewest,itismuchbroader.Peopleliketocalltheirfirstnameswhentheymeet,whichisakindandfriendlyexpression.Eventhoughtheymaycalleachotherbytheirlastnamesatthebeginningoftheconversation,theywillchangecalltheirnameslater.Besides,amongfamilymembers,theyusuallycallnamesornicknameswithoutdistinctionbetweenyoungandold.Athome,onecancallhisorherfatherandmother’snamesdirectly,allmaleelderscanbecalleduncleandallfemaleelderscanbecalledaunt.Whenaddressingastrangerwhosenameisunknown,Mr./Sir.andMrs./Madamareoftenusedtoaddress.Womenintheirtwentiesarecalled“Miss”andmarriedwomen“Lady”or“madam”andsoon.Andinthewest,peoplerarelyuseformaltitlestoaddressothers.Formaltitlesareusedonlyforjudges,seniorgovernmentofficials,doctors,professorsandseniorreligiousfigures.Itisworthnotingthatinthewesterncountries,administrativetitlessuchasdirector,managerandprincipalareneverusedtoaddressothers.Therefore,inbusinessactivities,oneshouldrealizethattherearedifferencesintheglobalnamingsystem,sometimesextremedifferences,sometimessubtledifferences.Beforeconductingbusinesscommunication,peopleshouldunderstandthedifferencesandusethecorrectwayofaddress.2.1.3ContentsofGreetingThemostimportantthinginchoosingthecontentofgreetingistodependontheoccasionandtheobject.Anygreetingisgivenoutinaspecificoccasion.Tomakeitwork,itmustbeinlinewithspecificsituationsandoccasions.Asforsayinghello,therearedifferencesbetweenChinaandwesterncountries.Inthewest,greetingoftenindicatesthetimeoftheday,whileChinesegreetingshavenosuchindication.Forexample,inEnglish,goodmorningisoftenusedfromearlymorningtolunchtimeanditcanbeusedinformalandinformaloccasion.But“goodmorning”inEnglishcannotcorrespondwith“您早”inChinese,buttheydonotindicatethesametime.“您早”inChineseisoftenusedinaveryshorttimefromearlymorningtobreakfast,thereforeitwillcauseunpleasantnessifyougreetChinesepeoplewith“您早”in10:00am.InChina,whenpeoplemeet,theywillaskeachother“haveyoueaten?”,“Wheretogo?”,and“Donothavetogotoworktoday?”ThesearethemostfamiliarandcommonwaytogreetChinesepeople.Ifyousayhellotowesternersinthesecommonplaces,westernerswillthinkthatisinvasionofprivacy.Asforsayinggoodbye,therearedifferencesbetweenChinaandthewest.Inthewest,whenpeopleseparate,theyusuallysay“Good-bye”,and“Bye-bye”,whichareequivalenttotheChinesesaying“再見”.Ifthereisaguestoranunfamiliarperson,accordingtoChinesecustom,whentheguestleaves,thehostshouldsendtheguesttothedoororthegate.Theguestsaystothehost“staywhereyouare”(請(qǐng)留步),andthehostfinallysayssuchpolitewordsas“Good-bye”(走好),or“Takecare.”(慢走).However,westernerscanjustsmileandgesturegoodbye.Moreover,inthewest,therearetwokindsoftopicsmostcommonlyusedbywesterners:first,abouttheweather.Forexample,theBritishmeetandsay,“Today’sweatherisgood.”Westernersaremostconcernedabouttheweather.Second,talkingaboutthecurrentsituation.Butitisonlylimitedtogenerality,notinvolvingprivacy.Youcansay“Howareyourecently?”,whenyoumeetforthefirsttime,youalwayshavetosaysuchwordsas“nicetomeetyou”.InChina,peopleliveaself-sufficientfarminglife.Therefore,whenChinesepeoplemeet,theywillaskeachother“Haveyoueaten?”Accordingtothediscussion,itisobviousthatcommunicationisinseparablefromthewordsinbusinessoccasion,theaddressformsshouldbewarmandappropriate,thegreetingshouldarefriendlyandthewordsshouldbevivid.Naturally,therelationshipandfeelingsbetweenthevisitorandthecustomerwillbecloseranddeeper,sothatthefeelingsofbothsideswillbemoreharmonious,andthecustomerwillfeelthecommunicationwillbesmooth.Itcanbeseenthatharmoniousatmosphereandfunnywordscannotonlyeffectivelypromotecommunication,butalsoobtainmorefavorableinformation.2.2BusinessCardsBusinesscardisanecessarycommunicationtoolforbusinessmen.First,thefunctionofbusinesscardisintroducingyourself.Abusinesscardcanbeusedasanauxiliaryintroductiontoolinthefirstmeeting.Second,showingyourinterest.Ifonewanttogettoknowsomeone,hecanoftenexpresshisintentionofmakingfriendsbyshowingbusinesscards.Third,keepingintouch.Byusingthecontactinformationprovidedbyothersontheirbusinesscards,peoplecankeepintouchwitheachothertopromotecommunication.2.2.1ContentsofBusinessCardBusinesscardisasimpleresumeofaperson,deliveringabusinesscardistellingtheotherpersonyourname,duty,andaddress.Generallyspeaking,Chinesepeoplepaymoreattentiontotheuseofbusinesscardsthanwesterners.Chineseoftenlistalltheirtitles,eventitlesthatareirrelevanttotheirbusiness,toprovethattheyaresuccessfulinbusiness.Forexample,asalesmanagerwilllistonthebusinesscardsthatheistheheadoftheSportsFishingAssociation.Butinwesternbusinesspractice,peopleoftenwritetheirbusinesscardsverysimple,theyonlymarkthemainheadingsonabusinesscard.Ifoneofthemisasocialactivistandhasmanytitles,theywillmakedifferentbusinesscards,acardwithonlyonetitleandusesitonrelevantoccasions.2.2.2UsageofBusinessCardIninterpersonalcommunication,changingcardmeanstrustandfriendshipandimplies“mayImakeafriendwithyou”.Inthiscase,theotherpartywillgenerallybepolitetoeachotherandhandovertheirbusinesscards,soastocompletethefirststepofcommunicationbetweenyoutwo.InChina,businesscardsmustbeexchangedforbusinessactivities.Forexample,atthebeginningofthesalesconference,itiscustomarytoexchangebusinesscardsbetweensalesrepresentativesandcustomers.Inotherwesterncountries,however,theyexchangebusinesscardsonlywhennecessary.Westernersdonotdistributecardsatmealsoratprivatedinners.Theythinkitblurstheboundariesofbusinessandsocialization.Inordertobeknownbymorepeople,Chinesepeoplesometimespassouttheirbusinesscardsasiftheyweredealingatapokergame.However,inthewest,thisapproachisconsideredtobeunprofessional.Inagrouporpartysituation,thecardexchangeshouldbeprivate.Westernersthinkthatappropriateexchangeofcardsonlyoccursbetweentwoindividuals.Generally,peoplewhotakepartintheworkshouldhavetheirownbusinesscards,whichshouldbeputinaproperplacesothattheycanuseitatanytime.OnlypeopleknowthattherearedifferencesinthecontentoruseofbusinesscardsbetweenChinaandthewesterncountries,cantheytakeotherpeople’sbusinesscardsseriously,soastoobtainmorebusinessopportunitiesandfriends.2.3BusinessBanquetBusinessactivitiesarenotonlyconfinedtotheoffice,butalsoreflectedinthetable.Banquetasanimportantformofsocialinteraction,includesallkindsofgovernmentandbusinessactivities.Banquetcanenhanceinterpersonalrelationship,andenhancecommunicationandemotionsbetweenpeople.Inordertomakefulluseofbanquettocarryoutbusinessactivities,peoplemustunderstandandmastertheetiquetteofbanquet.2.3.1TabooofFoodIntablemanners,therearesometaboosinbusinessbanquets,whichareembodiedinfoodanddrinking.Understandingthetaboofoodindifferentcountriesisaveryimportantpartintablemanners.Chinesepeopleliketoeatanimals’headsandfeet,suchaschickenheads,duckneck,chickenfeet,pigfeetandsoon.ThesearecommonfoodonChinesetable.However,inthewest,therearetabooaboutfoods.Westernersthinkchicken’sclawslooklikehuman’hands,intheirbelief,theyareinediblefood.Inaddition,forexample,dogmeatisalsooneofthecommondelicaciesonthetableinChina,whileinmostwesterncountries,suchastheUnitedStates,dogsareregardedaspetsorhumanfriendsandarenotallowedtobekilledatwill.Therearemanysuchexampleswhichrequireustoknowmoreaboutthetaboosonfoodindifferentcountries,soastoavoidunnecessarymisunderstandingwheneating.Furthermore,drinkinghasalwaysbeenregardedasanindispensablepartofsocialoccasionsintermsofbanquets,suchasdoingbusinessandmakingfriendsbyChinesepeople.Chinaisthehometownofwine,thecradleofwineculture,andoneofthefirstwinemakingcountriesintheworld.TheextensiveandprofoundwinecultureoftheChinesenationhasalsoconvincedforeignersandmadethemfullofcuriosityaboutChineseliquor.Chinesepeopleusuallyfollowstherulethattheglassofwineshouldnotbeemptyandtheteashouldnotbetoofull.However,westernersaredisgustedwiththeforcedpersuasiononthetable.Inthewest,theyusuallylikebeerandwine.Theirbehaviorwillfollowtheactionsofthehostess.Itisimpoliteforonetourgeotherpeopletodrinkinthewest,justlikeChinesepeoplerepelwesterners’kissingetiquette.2.3.2UsageofTablewareChinesetablewarearesimplerthanwesterntableware,butsomeetiquettedetailsshouldnotbeneglectedwhenusingtableware.ThecommonlyusedtablewareinChinesebanquetsare:plates,chopsticks,spoons,winecups,saucers,etc.,amongthemchopsticksarethemostimportanttablewareforChinesefood,andtheyarealmostoneoftheindispensabletablewareforChinesepeople.Whenusingchopsticks,oneshouldavoidfeelingunsatisfactoryafterpickingupthedishes,puttingthedishesdownandclippinganotherfood.Oneshouldnothesitatetofliparoundindishbowls,andavoidusingchopstickstoacrossoverother’schopstickswhenothersarepickingupdishes.Themainfunctionofspoonistoscoopupdishesandfood.Oneshouldnotoverfillthefoodwithaspoon,orstaythereforamomenttoavoidspillingovertodirtythetableorclothes.Thebowlismainlyusedtoholdfoodandsoup.Peopleshouldnotholdthebowlupwithbothhandstoeat,notthrowwasteinthebowl,andnottoturnthebowlupsidedownonthetable.Generally,Chinesepeoplearealsoveryfastidiousabouteating.Firstofall,invitetheguestsfirstwheneating.Second,ifonestandandmovehisorherchopsticks,oneshouldeatlessdishesthatarefarawayfromheorshe.Third,donotmakeanynoisewhenoneeat,anddonotmakeanynoisewhenonedrinkthesoup.Finally,drinkthesoupwithaspoonanddonotdrinkitwhileblowing.Tablewarecommonlyusedinwesternbanquetare:knives,forks,redwinecups,spoons,etc.Usually,wheneatingwesternfood,differentknivesandforksareneededfordifferentdishes,anddifferentwinesshouldbeservedwithdifferentglasses.Knifeandforkarethemostimportanttablewareinwesterncountries.Inmostcases,knifeandforkareusedtogether.Whenusingtheknifeandfork,oneshouldpayattentionnottomoveaggressivelytodisturbothers,nottomakenoisewhencuttingfood,nottowavetheknifeandforktospeak,nottopointatotherswiththeknifeandfork,nottopickuptheknifeandforkthatfallstothegroundanduseitagain,andnottomakeasound.Westernersbelievethatonlythosewholackeducationcanmakeanoisewheneating.Therefore,nomatterwhattheyeatordrink,theyshouldnotmakeasound.2.3.3MethodsofStoppingMealsDuetothedifferentuseoftableware,therearealsoobviousdifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternmealstoppingmethods.InChinesebanquets,chopstickscanbeplacedverticallyondisheswhenthemealistemporarilysuspended.Ifthechopsticksareplacedparalleltotheplate,itmeansthatthemealisstopped.Inthewest,ithasdifferentmeaningsoftheplacementofknivesandforks,ifonewanttostophalfwaythroughhisorhermealforarest,oneshouldplacehisorherknivesandforksinthecenterofhisorherplate,andtheeightshapeofknivesandforksinthecenteroftheplatemeanstorest.Iftheknivesandforksprotrudeoutoftheplate,itisnotsafeorgood-looking.Afterdinner,theguestshouldsettheknifeandforkinthedirection