Abstract and Key Words

Abstract: Table manners are the rules of etiquette used while eating. Different cultures observe different rules for table manners. This article has some contrastive analysis and research on the cultural differences of table manners between East and West from the point of view on sense of arriving time, seat arrangement, order of serving dishes, tableware, behaviour and communication. It is concluded that with the wide spreading of intercultural communication people in East and West are deeply transformed，permeated and accepted to one another. They come to respect and tolerate different table manners, thus are even assimilative and syncretize with each other.

Key words: table manners; cultural differences; syncretism

摘要：餐桌礼仪是用餐时的礼仪规则。不同的文化遵循不同的餐桌礼仪规则。本文从时间观念、座次安排、上菜顺序、餐具、行为和语言几个方面对中西方餐桌礼仪的文化差异做出对比分析，并由此得出结论，随着跨文化交际活动越来越广泛，中西方人经历了深刻的转变，从相互渗透到彼此接受，人们逐渐能够尊重和容忍不同文化的餐桌礼仪，甚至趋于同化和融合。

关键词：餐桌礼仪；文化差异；融合
1. Introduction
With the rapid development of economy and culture, having meals is not only for the basic physical satisfaction, but also the important skill in social communication. Striving for civic virtues and having good manners have become increasingly common understanding of the public.
In China, which has been a nation of etiquette and particular about food being the first necessity of the people since antiquity, table manners has a long history and has naturally become an important part of dining culture. With the deepening of open policy in our country and the strengthening of communication between East and West, people have more and more opportunities to cooperate with foreigners. Naturally, Chinese cannot avoid having dinners with foreigners. A series of table manners including sense of arriving time, seat arrangement, order of serving dishes, tableware, behaviour and communication reflect different culture and life-style in nations or countries. There are many differences of table manners between eastern and western countries.
To understand these differences can not only avoid committing a breach of etiquette to each other, but also promote the development of humanity culture in both countries and achieve interpersonal harmony in cross-cultural communication.