商务礼仪—— Table Manners(1)

　　1) As soon as the hostess picks up her napkin(餐巾), pick yours up and lay it on your lap. Sometimes a roll of bread is wrapped in it; if so, toke it our and put it on your side plate.

　　2) The Soup Course

　　Dinner usually begins with soup. The largest spoon at your place is the soup spoon. It will be beside your plate at the right-hand side.

　　3) The Fish Course

　　If there is a fish course, it will probably follow the soup. There may be a special fork for the fish, or it may be similar to the meat fork. Often it is smaller.

　　4) The Meat Course

The main Course is usually served by the host himself, especially if it is a fowl(鸡禽) or a roast which need to be carved. He will often ask each guest what piece he prefers, and it is quite proper to state your preference as to lean or fat, dark(红肉) or light(白肉).

　　5) Using Knife and Fork

　　If you have English and American friends you will notice a few differences in their customs of eating. For the main or meat curse, the English keep the fork in the left hand, point curved downward, and bring the food to the mouth either by sticking the points onto it or in the case of soft vegetables, by placing it firmly on the fork in this position with the knife. Americans carve the meat in the same position, then lay down the knife and taking the fork in the right hand with the point turned up, push it under a small piece of food without the help of the knife and bring it to the moth right-side-up.

6) Helping Yourself and Refusing

　　If a servant passes food around, he will pass the dish in at your left hand so that you can conveniently serve yourself with your right hand. Never serve yourself while the dish is on your right; it is then the turn of your neighbor on the right. It is polite to take some of everything that is passed to you. But if there is something you may not like, you may quietly say: "No thank you."

　　商务礼仪—— Table Manners(2)

　　7) Second Helpings

　　The hostess may or may not ask if you would like a second helping, according to the formality of the meal. If she does and you accept it, you should pass your plate to her or to the servant with the knife and fork still lying on it.

8) The Salad Course

　　A salad is eaten with a fork only held in the right hand with points turned up. There is usually a special one for the salad, a little smaller than the meat fork.

　　9) Bread and Butter

　　Bread is taken in the fingers and laid on the side plate or the edge of the large plate, it is never take with a fork. Butter is taken from the butter dish with the butter knife and placed on the side plate, not on one´s bread.

　　10) Other Things on the Table

　　When there are things on the middle of the table, such as bread, butter, jelly, pickles, nits, candies, you should not take any until the hostess ahs suggested that they be passed.

　　11) Leaving the Table

It is impolite for a guest to leave the table during a meal, or before the hostess gives the signal at the end. When the hostess indicates that the dinner is over, she will start to rise from her seat and all the guests she rise from theirs at the same time.

　　12) Various rules and Suggestions

　　Sit up straight on your chair;

　　Do not put much food in your mouth at a time;

　　Drink only when there is no food in your mouth;

　　Try not to get into your mouth anything that will have to be taken out;

　　Do not make any nose when you eat;

　　Do not clean your teeth at the table or anywhere in public, either with your finger or a tooth pick(牙签), not even with you tongue.

　　商务礼仪—— Invitation

　　1) You Must Reply to an Invitation

Foreign custom is much more strict than Chinese custom in the matter of replying to invitations. When you receive an invitation you should answer it immediately, saying definitely whether you are able to accept it or not.

　　2) Written or Verbal Reply

　　If the invitation is given by word of mouth, in conversation or at a chance meeting, you should answer at once whether you can come or not. If you cannot give an answer at that time, you may say, "May I let you know this evening?" Or some such words.

　　商务礼仪—— Introduction

　　1) How to Introduce People

　　In introducing two people, the general rule is: Introduce other people to the person you wish to honor. The old are honored in the West as in China. Women have been honoured in the West since the days of knighthood(骑士时代).

2) Rising at Introduction

　　A man always rise for an introduction, except that it is sometimes all right for an elderly man to remain seated when a young man is introduced to him. The hostess always rises for an introduction.

　　3) Introducing Yourself

　　If you want to meet someone, it is better to ask a friend who know him to introduce you. But sometimes at a meeting or gathering it is all right to introduce yourself to a fellow-student, or to one of the same sex and position.

　　商务礼仪——Meeting and Greeting People

　　1) Greeting

　　The simplest thing to say is "Good morning," "Good afternoon´" or "Good evening." This greeting is given to one whom you know only slightly, or to any one you are passing quickly. "How are you" is usually used when you are not in such a hurry. No answer is expected other than " Fine, thank you." "Hello´ is the commonest form of greeting between good friends.

2) When a Man Raises His Hat

　　If you are wearing a hat which can be taken bold of easily, it is customary to raise it slightly off your head when you greet a girl or a woman.

　　3) When to Shake Hands

　　It is customary to shake hands when you first meet someone. And usually friends shake hands when they meet after not having seen each other for some time. However it is not necessary to shake hands.

　　4) Use the person´s Name

　　It is always good form to use the name of the person you are greeting. You might say, "Good Morning, Mr.

    Moncrieff" or " Hello, Franklin." A person´s surname should be used unless he is good friend or school-mate.