Chopsticks tips

Hold your chopsticks towards their end, and not in the middle or the front third.

After eating or at times when you need to put down your chopsticks lay them down in front of you with the tip pointed to the left.

It is not proper to stick your chopsticks into rice. This is done only in funerals wherein the rice is offered on the altar.

Never pass food from your chopsticks directly to somebody else's chopsticks. This again is done only at funeral rites.

Do not spear food with your chopsticks.

Do not point with your chopsticks to something or somebody.

Do not move your chopsticks around in the air too much, nor play with them.

Do not move around plates or bowls with chopsticks.

To separate a piece of food into two pieces, exert controlled pressure on the chopsticks while moving them apart from each other. This needs much exercise.

If you have already used your chopsticks, use the opposite end of your chopsticks in order to move food from a shared plate to your own plate.

Knife and fork are used for Western food only. Spoons are sometimes used to eat Japanese dishes that are difficult to eat with chopsticks, for example some donburi dishes or Japanese style curry rice. A Chinese style ceramic spoon is sometimes used to eat soups.