Etiquette for Newcomers in the Workplace: The Dining Table
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Seating order at the dining table When inviting guests to dine, it is necessary to determine the correct positions for those at the upper and lower ends of the table; the following seats are considered upper-end seats: the seat by the window, the seat in the inner part of the table, and the seat from where a beautiful view can be enjoyed. When arranging seats, ask the guests to take their seats first ； When with your supervisor, have them sit in the seat next to them; you should stand on the left side of the chair, use your right hand to pull out the chair, and do so quietly. Also, when booking the venue, specify a spot reserved by the shop, avoiding areas next to the toilet or in uneven corners. Table manners: Chinese cuisine is typically served at round tables, with a circular platter in the center for the dishes. During meals, one picks the dishes they prefer and places them on the small plates in front of them to eat. The table manners for Chinese cuisine are basically simple, relaxed, and the least formal. Just keep an eye on the following key points. 1. Prioritize guests. One should not start eating before the host and guests have done so ； For each dish, the host and guests take food first, after which others proceed in order. 2. When someone is picking up food, the turntable on the table should not be rotated ； When someone turns the turntable, be careful not to scratch the tableware or dishes on it. 3. Foods that one likes should not be reserved for just one person. 4. Avoid using too many tableware items. The spirit of Chinese cuisine is to eat while chatting and enjoying time together; as long as basic etiquette is observed, one can talk freely. Topics at the dinner table If one just focuses on eating without looking up, the atmosphere will definitely be tense. What on earth should one talk about with customers who have different backgrounds, ages, personalities, and hobbies? 1. Weather, climate. It’s a British habit – when meeting other people on the train, they always start a conversation about the weather. 2. Hobbies. Hobbies based on ** or group affiliations are the best topics for conversation. 3. News reports. Although they change every day, almost all of these special news stories have been viewed by tens of thousands of people. 4. Hometown, school of origin. It is possible to thus find fellow countrymen and narrow the distance between one another. The following topics can also be used as references: family members, place of residence, favorite types of alcohol, favorite foods, cars, leisure travel, etc
Not bad; it would be great to add a bit more. Ah
Borrowing a post to repost – Tip 1: At the dinner table, though feelings are deep, just swallow it whole； The feelings are shallow; just give it a quick lick. “But you must never say such things while drinking.” Tip 2: Keep a low profile and build up your strength over time; never act like a big shot as soon as you sit down at the bar. Tip 3: Wait until the leaders have finished drinking before it’s your turn to toast. Tip 4: Multiple people can pay tribute to one person; it is never acceptable for one person to pay tribute to multiple people, unless you are the leader. Tip 5: When toasting someone, if there’s no clinking of glasses, decide how much to drink based on the circumstances – such as the other person’s tolerance for alcohol and their attitude toward drinking. Never drink less than them, as it’s you who is toasting them. Tip 6: Offer drinks to others first. If you clink glasses, say, “I’ll finish mine; you go ahead,” to show generosity. Tip 7: If you hold a lower position, remember to pour more drinks for your superiors. Don’t drink on their behalf without reason; and even if you do, it should seem as though you’re drinking because you want to, not to serve them. For example, if Leader A cannot handle alcohol well, one can indirectly stop those who intend to offer drinks to him. Tip 8: Hold the glass (beer mug) with your right hand, supporting it from above, while using your left hand to hold the bottom of the glass; remember that your glass should always be lower than those of others. If I were a leader, I would know when to back off and not set myself too low; otherwise, how can I expect those under me to behave properly? Tip 9: If there are no special guests present, it’s best to pass the drinks in clockwise order, without favoring some over others. Tip 10: When clinking glasses and toasting, have something to say. Reposted from Tip 11: Don’t talk about business at the table. Once the drinking is over, the business matters are more or less settled; everyone understands this, otherwise they wouldn’t drink with you so openly. Tip 12: Don’t act wrongly, say the wrong things, or do the wrong things; don’t argue – admitting fault and taking punishment voluntarily is the true solution. Tip 13: Just in case, purely as a precaution, if there isn’t enough wine, place the bottle in the middle of the table so that people can serve themselves. Don’t be silly and pour wine for each person one by one; otherwise, what will those who come after have to drink? Tip 14: There is always one last drink served, so don’t let your glass stay empty. You can’t get away~ Tip 15: Be careful not to say something foolish after drinking – don’t make big promises, don’t act inappropriately, don’t spit or wave your chopsticks around, and don’t point with your fingers. Don’t make noisy sounds while drinking soup, and avoid passing gas or burping. If you need to use the bathroom, go ahead; no one will stop you. Tip 16: Don’t keep saying “I can’t drink” (if you do drink), so as to avoid being called hypocritical by others. Believe it or not, it’s actually possible to tell whether someone can drink or not. Tip 17: When a leader offers you a drink, it’s an honor shown to you. No matter how much the leader asks you to drink, you should take a sip first as a sign of respect. Remember to keep your hands and the glass low. Tip 18: Peanuts are a good thing for those who drink alcohol. Stay sober; show concern after drinking is rare. 9 tips for those with a low alcohol tolerance: 1. Don’t take the initiative; adopt a defensive strategy ； 2. Place two large glasses on the table – one with baijiu and the other with mineral water. Use small drinking cups to raise a toast, and drink plenty of water. When the guests at the dinner table are roughly 80% drunk, water can be used as a substitute for alcohol; take the initiative in doing this ； (This one is not recommended.) 3. After toasting, don’t swallow it right away; find an opportunity to wipe your mouth with a napkin and spit the wine into the napkin ； (Applicable to women) 4. After taking your seat, eat some fatty meats and starchy foods first as a base; this helps prevent getting drunk easily when drinking alcohol ； No need; a glass of yogurt, a cup of hot water, and a warm towel all show how thoughtful you are. 5. Keep a steady pace – don’t drink too quickly all at once ； 6. Do not mix several types of alcohol together, as it easily leads to drunkenness ； 7. When the leader is serving food, never turn the round plate in the center of the dining table; turning it while the leader is serving food is a serious taboo at the dinner table ； 8. When you’re about 60% drunk, drink the vinegar from the dish in front of you, and then ask the waiter to bring more… 9. Every time you raise your glass to toast, fill it up, and before drinking pretend you can’t hold the glass properly so as to spill some of it; this way you can drink less each time.