How to properly hold Chinese chopsticks. How to hold Chinese chopsticks correctly? How to use Chinese chopsticks

The history of the appearance of Chinese chopsticks

Let's go back a while and find out how and when they were invented. Chinese sticks appeared more than 2500 years ago, and initially they were used only by the emperor and some of his entourage. Only many years later they began to be used for food in Everyday life ordinary citizens. Every year, sticks became more and more popular, and gradually they began to be used in Japan, Vietnam, and also Korea. Traditional Chinese sticks were made from bamboo and were called "kuaizu". Outwardly, they looked like tweezers.

To date, split-type sticks, which can be made from various materials. Wood remains the most common, but you can find sticks made of metal, bone or plastic. The wood from which the sticks are made can be different, their processing can also vary significantly. Chinese sticks can be lacquered, inlaid various stones, with a wide variety of drawings. Despite their appearance, it is important to know how to properly hold Chinese chopsticks. Only then will you be able to successfully use them.

How to hold Chinese chopsticks

Conventionally, the sticks can be divided into lower and upper. The lower one is fixed in the brush in such a way that it always remains motionless. Only the upper stick moves, and with the help of it, pieces of food are captured and held. If you still do not know how to use this attribute, then from this article you can learn how to properly hold Chinese chopsticks so that it is convenient to eat.

In order for the lower stick to remain motionless, it is placed in the recess between the index finger and thumb of the right hand, and also rests on the half-bent ring finger. The top stick should be parallel to the bottom stick and be 15 mm higher. There are two options for holding the top stick, and everyone can choose the most comfortable for themselves. The first involves holding the top stick like ballpoint pen used for writing. In the second option, the stick must be pressed against the middle and index fingers, which should be at the same level. How to eat right Chinese chopsticks? After you have taken the sticks in any of the ways indicated above, you need to adjust their length with your left hand so that when they touch, they touch each other only with the tips. In order to bring them together and grab a piece of food, it is enough to bend your index finger.

Using chopsticks while eating

In order to learn how to use Chinese chopsticks correctly, you need to familiarize yourself with the provisions of etiquette. You should know that placing food on Chinese chopsticks is prohibited. If the food is in a common dish, you can’t poke around in it, choosing a piece that you like best. If the stick touches a piece, it must be eaten. Chinese chopsticks should not be used in food. And pinching them in a fist is perceived as a gesture of threat. Now you know how to properly hold Chinese chopsticks, how to use them. We hope you will get great pleasure from joining the oriental culture.

Chinese cuisine is becoming more and more popular every year. Chinese sushi and rolls win first places in the ratings of taste preferences even among the most conservative gourmets. A good Chinese restaurant will definitely serve a fork at the request of the guest, but who doesn't want to feel like a master in eating Chinese food with authentic utensils?

Learning to eat with chopsticks

They say that sometimes the principle of self-learning in the process works: there are Chinese sticks, there are rolls. Somehow you need to grab onto and eat the rolls with chopsticks. True, the sushi at the same time manage to jump off and fall right on the wasabi. Someone thinks that it is enough to watch how others eat with Chinese chopsticks, and the skill will come by itself.

To use Chinese chopsticks correctly, it is better to listen to a couple of very simple tips:

1. It may not be possible to immediately control the chopsticks at high speed - fine motor skills of the hands are for that and fine motor skills, that the ability to perfectly accurately control the movement of the fingers comes with time. Therefore, do not chase speed. The main thing is not to drop the sushi!
2. The thick end of one stick must be placed in the hollow between the large and index finger and squeeze a little. The thin end of the stick should be placed on the ring finger. Remember - this wand stays still, it just sits comfortably in your hand.
3. The main secret explanations. The second, "acting", wand is taken as if you were holding a writing pen! Do not think about which phalanx the thin tip of the stick should be at. Just hold it the way you hold a writing pen. With this approach, you will not need to think about how to learn to eat with chopsticks: after all, you can easily control the writing pen, and the familiar position of the chopstick in your hand will make it easier for you!

Bon appetit!

History of Chinese chopsticks

The history of Chinese chopsticks goes back several millennia. Scientists believe that they were first used in BC. According to one version, this happened during the reign of the Shang-Yin dynasty (approximately 1764 - 1027 BC). But in the historical records of Sima Qian, written during the years of the Han Dynasty, it is said that Emperor Zhou used ivory chopsticks about 4,000 years ago. Hence the conclusion follows that the first Chinese sticks appeared even before the Shang-Yin Danasty. Chinese chronicles indicate that in those days only the emperor and his entourage used chopsticks, and only in 700-800 AD did they enter the homes of the common people. There is a version that initially chopsticks were needed only during the preparation of food wrapped in leaves. It was with their help that cooks quickly and deftly carried hot stones and turned over pieces of meat, fish and vegetables. Later, sticks became a replacement for the long-handled scoop, which was called "bi". If earlier prepared food was removed from the dishes with this spoon, then with the advent of chopsticks, the need for it disappeared. Now on sticks is a success all over the world.

What are chopsticks

From what the first chopsticks were made, you can guess by their name " kuaizu" containing the root value "bamboo". The bamboo trunk was split in two, and its halves were folded, as a result, the sticks resembled tweezers. A separate form of kuaizu was acquired much later, and has remained in this form until our times.

Now chopsticks are made from a variety of materials: plastic, bone, metal (including gold and silver). But most often, wood of various species is used for their production. Among them are pine, cypress, plum, maple, cedar, willow, black or purple sandalwood. Chopsticks can be disposable, such as those served in Chinese, Japanese or Vietnamese restaurants, or reusable, which are purchased for permanent use and stored at home along with other cutlery. Such kuaizu can be a real work of art: they are painted and varnished, decorated with ornaments and inlaid with metal and mother-of-pearl. Appearance chopsticks are also diverse: pyramidal, with thick or thin ends, flat. Their cross section can be round, oval, square, with rounded corners.

The tradition of eating with chopsticks from the Chinese was adopted by the Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese and other peoples of the East, but this happened only in the 12th century. In each of these countries, sticks look different. Japanese hashi are also made of wood, but they are shorter than Chinese kuaizu and have more pointed ends. Koreans eat a lot. thin sticks made mostly of metal.

How to hold Chinese chopsticks correctly?

There are cutlery for typical dishes. You wouldn't eat soup with a fork, would you? In this article, we will learn how to use Chinese chopsticks. It's not difficult at all.

1. First, one stick is taken (at a distance of one third from the upper end) between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand. Hold the stick with the thumb and ring fingers so that the index, middle and thumb form a ring.

2. The second stick is taken, placing it parallel to the first, at a distance of 15 mm. When the middle finger is straightened, the sticks move apart.

3. They bring the sticks together, bending the index finger, and pinch with the tips what they want to send to the mouth. In addition, if the piece is too large, you can separate it with chopsticks, but only very carefully.

Table culture.

Since Chinese chopsticks are part of the culture, there are certain rules behavior at the table when using them.

Do not bang your chopsticks on the table, plate or other objects to call the waiter.
- Do not "draw" with chopsticks on the table, do not "wander" aimlessly around food with chopsticks. Before reaching for your chopsticks, choose a bite.
- Always take food from above, do not pick your chopsticks in a bowl in search of the best piece. If you touch food, eat.
- Do not prick food on chopsticks.
- Do not shake the chopsticks to cool the piece.
- Do not put your face in a bowl or bring it too close to your mouth, and then use chopsticks to stuff food into your mouth. Don't tamp down food brought to your mouth with chopsticks.
- Do not lick sticks. Don't just keep chopsticks in your mouth.
When not using chopsticks, place them with the sharp ends to the left.
- Never pass food with chopsticks to another person.
- Never point with sticks or wave them in the air.
- Do not pull the plate towards you with chopsticks. Always take it in hand.
- Before you ask for more rice, put your chopsticks on the table.
- Do not hold two sticks in your fist: the Japanese perceive this gesture as threatening.
- Never stick your chopsticks into the rice. It is forbidden, so only the dead are served before the funeral.
- Do not place chopsticks across the cup. After you have finished eating, place your chopsticks on the stand.

VIDEO LESSON

There is Chinese food a fork is great if it's your day off and you're planning to treat yourself to rolls in front of the TV in your living room. But, if you ever go to a fancy restaurant where chopsticks are the norm, but forks are not even offered as cutlery, then you will absolutely need to read the following instructions.

Learn how to properly hold your chopsticks and how to move your fingers to enjoy Chinese food properly. Let's start!

Separate two sticks. If you have disposable chopsticks, the ones that are most often served in almost all Chinese restaurants, then you must first separate them from each other. The two halves will resemble tweezers. Take the first wand. Pick up only one stick at first, using your dominant hand (although Chinese tradition accepted to eat right hand, even if you are left-handed) and point the narrower end towards the cymbal. Adjust the stick so that about three centimeters of the thicker end peeks out from the area between the index finger and thumb. The lower joint of the thumb will not allow the stick to move. Now place the wand so that it rests lightly on the inside of your ring finger, while freeing your middle and index fingers.
The first stick will be your support and it should not move from this position when you take food.

Take the second wand. With this device, you will have to work a little to make everything as it should be.
Align the thick end of the second stick with the thick end of the first stick, so that it sticks out three centimeters and is located between the index and thumb. Control the narrower tip: it should pass between the middle and index fingers. Relax your hand and try to remember this position, as this is the main way to hold the sticks.

To move the second stick (remember that the first stick is stationary), apply light pressure on it with the tip of your thumb, making sure that the finger does not move the first stick. Also, use your index and middle fingers to spread or loosen the sticks.

The most difficult thing will be to synchronize your thumb with the middle and index so that everything works in unison, but this skill will definitely come with practice.

Taste the food. Learn to grip and release your chopsticks freely, and don't be discouraged if you don't manage to grab your food the first time.

Once you feel like you've mastered the chopstick technique, start with large pieces of food like shrimp and sushi, then move on to smaller dishes that require strong coordination: rice and noodles, for example. Good luck!

Do you love Asian food but want to experience the full spectrum of pleasure using chopsticks? Some claim that this way the food even tastes better, and you want to see for yourself, but not look stupid. From the outside it looks simple, but when you try to repeat the same thing, everything ends up asking for a fork. Here's how to say goodbye to that fork forever and start using chopsticks!

Steps

Maneuvering

1. Grab the first stick with your middle and thumb fingers. You must hold her tight - wand should not move. The wide end of the stick should lie in the fold between the thumb and forefinger. The wand itself should pass through the pad of the thumb and rest on the middle finger. It should be practically motionless. It's similar to how you hold a pen, but a little lower.

   • Some prefer to hold the wand not on the middle, but on the ring finger, holding the end with the tip of the index finger.

2. Hold the second stick between your index and thumb. This wand must move. Place your thumb on the second stick so that it is higher than the first. Position your fingers so that you can comfortably grab food. Make sure the thin ends of the chopsticks are touching to prevent the chopsticks from crossing and to avoid a bad grip on the food.

   • Try to align them, you can knock them on the table. Eating with misaligned chopsticks will be difficult.

3. Practice opening and closing sticks. Make sure the wide ends of the chopsticks don't form a cross, otherwise you'll have a hard time grasping the food. Only the top stick moves? Fine!

   • If it helps you, try moving your hand up and down in the direction of the sticks, but keeping the same finger position. Some find it easier when the fingers are closer to the end of the sticks, some when they are at the base.

4. Try to take a piece of food. At first, it will be easiest to keep the angle at 45 °. When you get used to it, increase it. If you feel unstable, move the sticks down and try again.

   • When you learn how to eat one type of food, move on to others. Try different sizes and types of products. When you feel quite confident, practice with noodles!

   Etiquette

   Learn the rules for sharing food. Often Asian dinner table(at home or in a restaurant) is a huge plate of food that people share among themselves. At the same time, it will not right put your individual chopsticks into a common plate of food after they have already been in your mouth. You have two options:

   • Use common chopsticks that no one eats and that have not previously been on your or someone else's plate of food.
   • Take your chopsticks with the other ends. Serve food with wide ends that you hopefully didn't chew!

5. Know what to do with chopsticks when you're not eating. The rules for using chopsticks unfortunately don't end when you start eating. Every society has its own rules, but in general:

   • Don't stick your chopsticks into your food. This looks like a bad omen, because it looks like incense at a funeral.
   • Do not pierce food with the ends of chopsticks. If nothing helps you pick up food, you may think that this is good idea. But it looks very uncultured.
   • Do not transfer food from chopsticks to chopsticks. It is also a funeral tradition, and is bad (or even awful) behavior at the table.
   • Don't cross sticks. When you're done eating, just place them next to your plate on the left side.
   • Don't point your chopsticks at people. Pointing at someone in general is indecent in Asia, and even more so with chopsticks.
     • This page would be infinitely long if all the rules of conduct at the table were presented here. However, this ground rules that you need to know.

6. If you eat rice, be prepared for painstaking work. If you have a bowl of rice in front of you, you probably feel like a rower without a paddle. But it will be completely normal (and even acceptable) if you take a bowl and bring it closer to your face and start eating from that position. You won't look stupid, you will look experienced!

   • Start holding the chopsticks in the middle or towards the ends. This way you will learn how to hold the sticks evenly. As you gain some experience, try keeping them closer to the base.
   • Although you may find it easier to hold your chopsticks at the thin ends, holding them closer to the wide ends will increase the angle of your food. The sticks will be parallel to each other and you will be able to scoop food (such as rice) from below. You will also be able to take larger pieces of food.
   • Take sticks home and practice. Using the previous tips, try picking up a nut, a pen, or a piece of fish. Try eating your dinner with chopsticks.
   • The difference between an untrained person and a cultured person can be seen when you hold chopsticks. Do not hold chopsticks at the very end. Your hands should be as far away from food as possible. Do not pierce food with chopsticks, it is uncivilized, rude and may offend the chef.
   • Flexible and/or sliced ​​pieces of food, such as cheese or sausage, are great for working out. They will work better than diced food as long as you learn to hold the chopsticks straight and try to figure out how much force to apply them.
   • This is The right way hold sticks. Ultimately, if you can take food off your plate and bring it to your mouth without any problems, you are using your chopsticks effectively.
   • Clamp the chopsticks firmly, but gently, so that the food does not fall out of the chopsticks onto the table or plate. If you apply too much pressure, the thin ends of the chopsticks may cross over, unless they are perfectly aligned, and the food will splatter across the table.
   • Be patient as it takes some time to learn how to hold the chopsticks correctly. It's perfectly acceptable if you ask for a fork or spoon when you're too upset about your failure.
   • Wooden and bamboo sticks are the easiest to use as their texture allows food to be held. Plastic sticks are harder to use. The metal sticks beloved by Koreans are the most difficult to use. Improve your skill with one type of wand and move on to another. The next time you go out, people will be amazed!

   Warnings

   • Chinese etiquette says it's perfectly okay to eat rice with the bowl close to your mouth. However, in Korea it is considered indecent. Be on the lookout for the culture and people you are eating with.
   • Do not pick your teeth with chopsticks, even if there are no toothpicks on the table.
   • Decide what kind of food you will eat before you start picking it up with your chopsticks. It is considered indecent to choose food already on the plate.
   • Avoid passing food with chopsticks. As already mentioned, this is part of the Japanese funeral tradition, the relatives of the deceased transfer the bones from one stick to another, and then put them in an urn. Instead, put the food you want to give to someone on a separate plate. Use new chopsticks, or if you don't have any, turn your chopsticks over and use them, then pass the plate to another guest.
   • Don't tap your chopsticks on your plate or bowl. This is what beggars did in ancient China.
   • Using chopsticks isn't easy, so don't lose your temper as you learn.