Banqueting Table Manners 酒宴上的礼仪

一、座次
I. The order of seats
总的来讲，座次是“尚左尊东”、“面朝大门为尊”。若是圆桌，则正对大门的为主客，主客左右手边的位置，则以离主客的距离来看，越靠近主客位置越尊，相同距离则左侧尊于右侧。若为八仙桌，如果有正对大门的座位，则正对大门一侧的右位为主客。如果不正对大门，则面东的一侧右席为首席。
In general, in terms of the order of seating, “the seat on the left side and the east are for respected guests” and “the seats facing the door are for respected guests”. If the table is round, the seat facing the door is the seat for the most important guest with the importance of guests decreasing as their distance from either side of the chair increases. If the distance is the same, the left one is superior to the right one. When seated at old-fashioned square tables for eight people, if there are seats facing the door, the seat to the right is for the most important guest. If there are no seats facing the door, the seat to the right on the side facing the east is the seat of primary honor.
如果为大宴，桌与桌之间的排列讲究首席居前居中，左边依次2、4、6席，右边为3、5、7席，根据主客身份、地位、亲疏分坐。
In a large banquet, when arranging the tables, the seat of primary honor shall be at the front and in the middle center. Seats 2, 4, 6 should be arranged in proper order to the left of the seat of primary honor and seats 3, 5 and 7 should be located to the right. Guests should be seated according to identity, status and their relationship with the host.
如果你是主人，你应该提前到达，然后在靠门位置等待，并为来宾引座。如果你是被邀请者，那么就应该听从东道主安排入座。
If you are the host, you should arrive in advance and wait near the door and usher the guests. If you are a guest, you should take your seat according to arrangements made by the host.
二、点菜
II. Ordering dishes
如果时间允许，你应该等大多数客人到齐之后，将菜单供客人传阅，并请他们来点菜。宴请前选择合适档次的请客地点是比较重要的，这样客人也能大大领会你的预算。
If time allows, you should wait until most of the guests arrive, and then pass the menu to guests for reference, asking them to order dishes. It is important to choose a banqueting venue of appropriate class before the banquet so that the guests may understand your budget well.
如果你是赴宴者，要让主人来点菜。如果对方盛情要求，你可以点一个不太贵、又不是大家忌口的菜。记得征询一下桌上人的意见，特别是问一下“有没有哪些是不吃的？”或是“比较喜欢吃什么？”让大家感觉被照顾到了。点菜后，可以请示“我点了菜，不知道是否合几位的口味”，“要不要再来点其它的什么”等等。
If you are a guest, you should let the host order dishes. At the gracious invitation of the host, you can order an inexpensive dish which should be suitable for the host and guests. Remember to ask for the opinions of those on the table. In particular, ask them whether they avoid certain foods or what they prefer so as to let everyone feel they have been taken into consideration. After ordering dishes, you can say, “I have ordered some dishes. I don’t know whether they are to your taste.” and “Would you like to order some other dishes?” etc.
三、吃菜
III. Having dishes
中国人一般都很讲究吃，同时也很讲究吃相。随着职场礼仪越来越被重视，商务饭桌上的吃和吃相也更加讲究。以下以中餐为例，教你如何在餐桌上有礼有仪，得心应手。中餐宴席进餐伊始，服务员送上的第一道湿毛巾是擦手的，不要用它去擦脸。上龙虾、鸡、水果时，会送上一只小小水盂，其中飘着拧檬片或玫瑰花瓣，它不是饮料，而是洗手用的。
In general, Chinese people pay great attention to eating, and devote particular care to table manners. With the increasing importance attached to the occupational manners, the eating and table manners of the commercial dinners are more and more important. In the following part, we will take a Chinese meal as an example to teach you how to behave politely and use what is lain on the table. At the beginning of a Chinese banquet, the wet towel served by the waiters is used to clean your hands; so don’t use it to clean your face. When lobster, chicken or fruit is served, there will be a small jar holding water with a lemon slice or roseleaf on it. It is not for drinking, but to be used for washing hands.
用餐时要注意文明礼貌。对外宾不要反复劝菜，可向对方介绍菜的特点，吃不吃由他。有人喜欢向他人劝菜，甚至为对方夹菜。
When having meals, you need to have good manners. Don’t persuade foreign guests to eat again and again. You can introduce the dishes to them and let them decide whether to eat. Some people like to persuade others to eat or even help others to the dishes.
四、喝酒
IV. Drinking
在酒桌上喝酒也有很多学问讲究，以下是一些酒桌上不得不注意的小细节。
There are many points of knowledge and important things to be taken into consideration when drinking at a banquet. The following are some details requiring attention.
细节一：领导相互喝完才轮到自己敬酒。敬酒一定要站起来，双手举杯。细节二：可以多人敬一人，决不可一人敬多人，除非你是领导。细节三：自己敬别人，如果不碰杯，自己喝多少可视乎情况而定，比如对方酒量，对方喝酒态度，切不可比对方喝得少，要知道是自己敬人。细节四：自己敬别人，如果碰杯，一句，我喝完，你随意，方显大度。细节五：记得多给领导或客户添酒，不要瞎给领导代酒，就是要代，也要在领导或客户确实想找人代，还要装作自己是因为想喝酒而不是为了给领导代酒而喝酒。细节六：端起酒杯（啤酒杯），右手扼杯，左手垫杯底，记着自己的杯子永远低于别人。
The first detail: only after the leaders have toasted each other may you toast them. When proposing a toast, you must stand up and raise your glass with two hands. The second detail: it is permitted for many people to toast another individual but it is prohibited for one person to toast a group of people unless this person is a leader. The third detail: When you propose a toast to others, if you do not clink glasses, the amount that you drink depends on the circumstances; for example, your partner’s capacity for liquor and attitude towards drinking may be taken into account. Remember not to drink less than the opposite side, because you are the one that has proposed the toast. The forth detail: when you toast to others and clink glasses with him or her, you shall say, “I’ll drink it up, and you drink at will” so as to be magnanimous and tolerant. The fifth detail: remember to pour out liquor for leaders or clients frequently. Don’t drink wine on behalf of the leaders at will. If you want to, you must do so when the leader or the client really needs help. You should also pretend that you are drinking on behalf of them because you like drinking, not because you want to help them. The sixth detail: raise the glass (beer glassware) with the right hand holding the glass and the left hand supporting from the under. Remember your glass should never be higher than the glasses of others.
五、倒茶
V. Serving the tea
首先，茶具要清洁。客人进屋后，先让坐，后备茶。冲茶之前，一定要把茶具洗干净。在冲茶、倒茶之前最好用开水烫一下茶壶、茶杯。这样，既讲究卫生，又显得彬彬有礼。如果不管茶具干净不干净，胡乱给客人倒茶，这是不礼貌的表现。
First of all, the tea set should be cleaned. After the guests enter, you should offer them a seat first, and then prepare tea. Before making and serving the tea, you must clean the tea set and had better scald the tea pot and tea cups. It is not only shows that you pay attention to matters of hygiene but that show you are also refined and courteous. Neglecting the cleanliness of the tea set and serving tea for the guests at random are impolite behaviors.
其次，茶水要适量。先说茶叶，一般要适当。茶叶不宜过多，也不宜太少。茶叶过多，茶味过浓；茶叶过少，冲出的茶没啥味道。
Secondly, the amount of tea shall be appropriate. First of all, the amount of tea leaves should be correct. Quantities of tea leaves should be neither too large or too few. If there are too many tea leaves, the taste of tea will be too strong. Alternatively, if the tea leaves are too few, the tea will have no flavor.
再次，端茶要得法。按照我国人民的传统习惯，要用双手给客人端茶。双手端茶也要很注意，对有杯耳的茶杯，通常是用一只手抓住杯耳，另一只手托住杯底，把茶端给客人。
Thirdly, the method of serving tea in cups should be proper. According to the traditional habits of Chinese people, you should serve the guest with a cup of tea with two hands. When serving with two hands, it is notable that cups with handles are usually held by the handle with one hand and the bottom of the cup is held with the other before serving.
六、离席
VI. Leave the table
一般酒会和茶会的时间很长，大约都在两小时以上。也许逛了几圈，认得一些人后，你很快就想离开了。这时候，中途离席的一些技巧，你不能不了解。当你要中途离开时，别和谈话圈里的每一个人一一告别，只要悄悄地和身边的两、三个人打个招呼，然后离开即可。
Usually a wine party or a tea party will last for a long time, more than two hours or so. Maybe after walking around for a few times and acquainting yourself with some people, you want to leave soon. This is the time for you to understand some of the skills for leaving in the middle of the party. When you are leaving and the party has not yet come to an end, don’t bid farewell to everyone you have been talking with. You should just whisper goodbye to two or three people around you and then leave.
中途离开酒会现场，一定要向邀请你来的主人说明、致歉。和主人打过招呼，应该马上就走，不要拉着主人在大门大聊个没完。因为当天对方要做的事很多，现场也还有许多客人等待他（她）去招呼，你占了主人太多时间，会造成他（她）在其他客人面前失礼。
When you are leaving before a wine party comes to an end, you have to explain your reason and apologize to the host who invited you. After talking with the host, you should leave as soon as possible. Don’t talk too much with the host near the door, because the host has many things to do and there are many guests awaiting his or her greetings. If you take up too much of the host’s time you will cause the host’s impoliteness to other guests.