How to use chopsticks

As in every other countries, knowing table manner is a way to make a good impression.
In this post I explain you how to use chopsticks.

 

How to hold and use chopsticks

Hold the bottom chopstick between the bottom of the thumb and the tip of the ring finger. Close the thumb to stabilize the chopstick, never move it.

Pinch and stabilize the upper chopstick with fingertips of direction finger, middle finger and thumb. This chopstick is held like a pencil, and it is moved while eating, to pull food into the grasp of the chopsticks.

For etiquette, the right way to hold chopsticks is the following:

Pick up both of the chopsticks’ bottom with your eating hand.

Place the other hand’s palm at the top and under the chopsticks. Hold them firmly with the thumb of this hand.

Move your eating hand under the chopsticks and palm up.

Just place a little pressure on the upper chopstick with your eating hand’s index finger, to make it pivot on the index finger while keeping the bottom chopstick stationary.

Release the chopsticks from the other hand.

This procedure is the one that give you the better grip with less effort.

 

 

 

How to use chopsticks:

• Close the chopsticks to pick up food.
• Open the chopsticks to peel off or break into a part.
• The chopsticks should not cross each other while you use them.
• Chopsticks should be placed right-left direction (the tips should be on the left) and on a chopstick rest. When a chopstick rest is not available (like in restaurants that use disposable chopsticks) a person may make a chopstick rest by folding the paper case that contained the chopsticks.
• Disposable chopsticks (割り箸waribashi) should be replaced into the wrapper at the end of the meal.
• Reversing chopsticks to use the opposite clean end is commonly used to move food from a communal plate, and is acceptable if there are no communal chopsticks.
• To separate a piece of food in two, exert controlled pressure on the chopsticks while moving them apart from each other in order to tear the food.

Where to hold chopsticks:

The correct place to put your fingers while holding them is two-thirds of the way from the bottom.

 

This is a video that explain how to move, how to separate, and other fun and interesting things on chopsticks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3vBqX1NTBc