The Perfect Gentleman Issue 2 - April 2016 | Page 45

International Gentleman
In Chinese life, physical contact is kept to an
absolute minimum for most interactions, even
those in relationships keep their public
displays of affection to a very chaste hand
holding level. Close friends and family
members may greet each other with a hug, but
the standard greeting is a handshake, or a bow
from the neck.

When it comes to paying for a formal dinner
in China, there is a standard formula. If it is a
company dinner, then the most senior
member of the inviting company should pay
for the bill.

It is expected that the most senior member of
the other company (if there are 2 companies)
or a senior deputy should make a show of
In dining, chopsticks are used in place of a
trying to pay for the bill, eventually
knife and fork. Your chopsticks are for you to
capitulating after a few attempts. If it is a
put food into your mouth with, and therefore, private occasion, a similar display of trying to
for hygiene reasons, should not be used to take pay for the bill should be made by another
any food from a communal plate, and in
senior guest.
between mouthfuls a laid to rest on a chopstick
rest, rather than on the table.

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