1)Assoonasthehostesspicksuphernapkin(餐巾）,pickyoursupandlayitonyourlap.Sometimesarollofbreadiswrappedinit;ifso,tokeitourandputitonyoursideplate.
2)TheSoupCourse
Dinnerusuallybeginswithsoup.Thelargestspoonatyourplaceisthesoupspoon.Itwillbebesideyourplateattheright-handside.
3)TheFishCourse
Ifthereisafishcourse,itwillprobablyfollowthesoup.Theremaybeaspecialforkforthefish,oritmaybesimilartothemeatfork.Oftenitissmaller.
4)TheMeatCourse
ThemainCourseisusuallyservedbythehosthimself,especiallyifitisafowl(鸡禽）oraroastwhichneedtobecarved.Hewilloftenaskeachguestwhatpieceheprefers,anditisquitepropertostateyourpreferenceastoleanorfat,dark（红肉）orlight（白肉）.
5)UsingKnifeandFork
IfyouhaveEnglishandAmericanfriendsyouwillnoticeafewdifferencesintheircustomsofeating.Forthemainormeatcurse,theEnglishkeeptheforkinthelefthand,pointcurveddownward,andbringthefoodtothemoutheitherbystickingthepointsontoitorinthecaseofsoftvegetables,byplacingitfirmlyontheforkinthispositionwiththeknife.Americanscarvethemeatinthesameposition,thenlaydowntheknifeandtakingtheforkintherighthandwiththepointturnedup,pushitunderasmallpieceoffoodwithoutthehelpoftheknifeandbringittothemothright-side-up.
6)HelpingYourselfandRefusing
Ifaservantpassesfoodaround,hewillpassthedishinatyourlefthandsothatyoucanconvenientlyserveyourselfwithyourrighthand.Neverserveyourselfwhilethedishisonyourright;itisthentheturnofyourneighborontheright.Itispolitetotakesomeofeverythingthatispassedtoyou.Butifthereissomethingyoumaynotlike,youmayquietlysay:"Nothankyou."
7)SecondHelpings
Thehostessmayormaynotaskifyouwouldlikeasecondhelping,accordingtotheformalityofthemeal.Ifshedoesandyouacceptit,youshouldpassyourplatetoherortotheservantwiththeknifeandforkstilllyingonit.
8)TheSaladCourse
Asaladiseatenwithaforkonlyheldintherighthandwithpointsturnedup.Thereisusuallyaspecialoneforthesalad,alittlesmallerthanthemeatfork.
9)BreadandButter
Breadistakeninthefingersandlaidonthesideplateortheedgeofthelargeplate,itisnevertakewithafork.Butteristakenfromthebutterdishwiththebutterknifeandplacedonthesideplate,notonone’sbread.
10)OtherThingsontheTable
Whentherearethingsonthemiddleofthetable,suchasbread,butter,jelly,pickles,nits,candies,youshouldnottakeanyuntilthehostessahssuggestedthattheybepassed.
11)LeavingtheTable
Itisimpoliteforaguesttoleavethetableduringameal,orbeforethehostessgivesthesignalattheend.Whenthehostessindicatesthatthedinnerisover,shewillstattorisefromherseatandalltheguestssherisefromtheirsatthesametime.
12)VariousrulesandSuggestions
Situpstraightonyourchair;Donotputmuchfoodinyourmouthatatime;Drinkonlywhenthereisnofoodinyourmouth;Trynottogetintoyourmouthanythingthatwillhavetobetakenout;Donotmakeanynosewhenyoueat;Donotcleanyourteethatthetableoranywhereinpublic,eitherwithyourfingeroratoothpick(牙签）,notevenwithyoutongue.
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