Don't put your elbows(肘) on the table. The soup spoon should never be put into the mouth. These are some of the examples of table manners. They show the way people behave while eating a meal. Actually, every family follows table manners in its own way. Even in families where no one mentions elbows, there are always behaviours taking effect when sharing meals.
Interestingly, different cultures have different thoughts on table manners-elbows on the table, for example, is very British. Some countries think burping(打嗝) after a meal is a sign that it was delicious. While it is important to keep silent while eating, in some areas it is actually as important to keep up the tradition of eating at the table as a family, with conversations and no mobile phones.
Table manners matter much. They are a reflection of your character. It's about respect for others. When you are with others in a social setting, you want to be considerate to those around you. Table manners also mean your "ticket" to social success. Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot. Few will want an ill-mannered person in their workplace, or social circle, and this is as relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago.
While globalization has led to the intermixing of cultures, the essence of table manners remains. "I was brought up to have table manners," says celebrated chef Tony Tan, who grew up in Malaysia, eating Indian, Chinese and Malay cuisines with chopsticks, hands, spoon and fork. Tan, who went on to train as a chef in Paris and London, is an expert in Asian cuisines from Cantonese to Malaysian, which he teaches at his school in country Victoria-but the etiquette(礼节), particularly of his Chinese tradition, has remained. He says, "You've got to invite your elders to start eating, or say, 'We are now eating', so the elders can say, 'Go ahead'. It's a sign of respect to the elderly. When people don't do that anymore, they lack manners and they lack good upbringing. "