Ofcourse,themaindifferenceontheChinesedinnertableischopsticksinsteadofknifeandfork,butthat'sonlysuperficial.Besides,indecentrestaurants,youcanalwaysaskforapairofknifeandfork,ifyoufindthechopsticksnothelpfulenough.

　　TherealdifferenceisthatintheWest,youhaveyourownplateoffood,whileinChinathedishesareplacedonthetableandeveryoneshares.Ifyouarebeingtreatedtoaformaldinnerandparticularlyifthehostthinksyou'reinthecountryforthefirsttime,hewilldothebesttogiveyouatasteofmanydifferenttypesofdishes.

　　Themealusuallybeginswithasetofatleastfourcolddishes,tobefollowedbythemaincoursesofhotmeatandvegetabledishes.Soupthenwillbeserved(unlessinGuangdongstylerestaurants)tobefollowedbystaplefoodrangingfromrice,noodlestodumplings.

　　Ifyouwishtohaveyourricetogowithotherdishes,youshouldsaysoingoodtime,formostoftheChinesechoosetohavethestaplefoodatlastorhavenoneofthematall.

　　PerhapsoneofthethingsthatsurprisesaWesternvisitormostisthatsomeoftheChinesehostsliketoputfoodintotheplatesoftheirguests.Informaldinners,therearealways"public"chopsticksandspoonsforthispurpose,butsomehostsmayusetheirownchopsticks.Thisisasignofgenuinefriendshipandpoliteness.Itisalwayspolitetoeatthefood.Ifyoudonoteatit,justleavethefoodintheplate.

　　PeopleinChinatendtoover-orderfood,fortheywillfinditembarrassingifallthefoodisconsumed.Whenyouhavehadenough,justsayso.Oryouwillalwaysovereat!