How to Use Chopsticks: Chopsticks Taboos

The use of chopsticks to pick food up from the plate will earn you several compilments from Chinese people. But over time, once in a while, your close friends might remind you about some basic chopsticks etiquette such as never insert chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. If you want to master the art of using this centuries-old cutlery, here are 10 rules to keep in mind.

1.Do not put chopsticks on the table in different lengths. This will remind Chinese people another name for coffin (three long, two short 三长两短), because a coffin without a lid is composed of five boards, three long, and two short.

2. Don’t use chopsticks to poke at each dish without knowing what you want.

3. Don’t make noise with chopsticks by hitting the side of your bowl because only beggars do that to get attention.

4. While passing someone a bowl of rice or noodles, never insert the chopsticks vertically in the middle of the food for convenience. The action would remind people of burning incense sticks in the pot to sacrifice for the dead.

5. While eating, never hold the chopsticks with your index finger pointing out. Using the index finger to point at someone is the Chinese take of giving the finger.

6. Never use only one chopstick to poke and fetch the food in the plate.

7. Like sipping on your noodles quietly is a good thing, don’t suck on the chopsticks and make noise, although babies and toddlers can be excused.

8. It is rude to use chopsticks to point at someone else or something.

9. Don’t dig and rummage the food to look for what you want with chopsticks, although hot pot is the exception excused.

10. Do not drop food and liquid from your chopsticks to the table.