Employees of the retro club “Pionerskaya Pravda” shared with us about some of the nuances associated with ordering sushi. They are sure that in the companies that come to them, some visitors refuse Japanese cuisine because they do not know how to use sushi chopsticks. We hasten to correct this gap, and use examples in pictures to explain how to hold sushi chopsticks. Now you will understand that there is nothing complicated here!

Step-by-step instructions on how to properly hold sushi chopsticks

1. If you are right-handed, first take one stick with your right hand, and with your thumb, about 1/3 from the top edge, press the stick to your ring finger. This wand will be controlled by the ring finger and thumb. The middle and index fingers are not used yet - they will be needed in step 2. Are you ready? 2. Give yourself the second stick with your left hand from above, parallel to the first stick. Grab the second stick with the middle and index fingers, supporting it with the phalanx of the thumb about 1.5-2 cm above the first stick.

3. Use your middle finger as a lever - if you straighten your middle finger, the sticks will move apart. Bend it and the sticks will repeat the movement. As you can see, it's quite simple (in theory). And for practice, you can order sushi delivered to your home and try it without anyone bothering you. After a couple of these lessons at home, you will be ready to use sushi chopsticks in any company.

How to eat sushi?

Many Japanese dishes are eaten with chopsticks. But learning to use them is not so bad; you also need to know how to handle dishes. Here are some sketches to help you comply:

• Do not stick chopsticks into rice, rolls or other dishes;
• Rolls, sushi, sushi are not cut off or bitten in parts, they are placed in the mouth whole;
• It is not customary to pass sushi to each other;
• You cannot put rolls on someone else’s plate - let your friend take the food himself;
• You don’t need to take anything in your hands except chopsticks;
• Do not use sushi chopsticks as a pen or pointer;

• Do not move any objects on the table with chopsticks, even if you cannot reach another dish;
• Do not clench the chopsticks into your fist;
• Do not place chopsticks across the cup-glass-sauce;
• When speaking to the waiter, you should put down your chopsticks.

All lovers of Asian food claim that if you eat it with chopsticks, you can taste the taste much better. But in order to verify this from your own experience, you need, of course, to learn how to use Chinese chopsticks. This skill will be useful even for those who are not planning to move to China, but are simply interested in culture.

Correct hand position

First you need to figure out how to properly hold this cutlery. If the sticks are not training, then they are not connected to each other. The first of them must be firmly fixed with two fingers: the thumb and forefinger. The stick should not slide. In fact, this situation is reminiscent of how each of us was taught to write with a pen in childhood. Only the stick should be located slightly lower than the handle. By the way, not everyone likes this method of fixation: some prefer to hold the stick between the ring and index fingers. Try both options and decide which is more convenient for you.

The second stick, unlike the first, must move. It is due to this that it will be possible to pick up food with cutlery. To make this easy, you need to place the second stick under your thumb. As a result, the thin edges of the sticks should touch each other and not intersect. If it is difficult to align the position cutlery– tap the chopsticks on the table. This way they will settle down in your hand.

Training and Practice

Before you try to pick up food, you need to practice using the chopsticks a little. Try closing and opening the sticks. The ends should always meet normally. Choose the hand position that is most comfortable for you. You can lower your fingers closer to the bottom edge, or, on the contrary, keep them almost at the very base. But remember that keeping your fingers close to the thin edges of the chopsticks is uncivil. main reason The problem is that with this position of the hands they practically touch the food, and this is simply unhygienic.

After you have practiced a little, you can learn to pick up food with chopsticks. You need to try to eat different types dishes. Simply because eating rice, for example, is more difficult than sushi or noodles. Experiment with different sizes and types of food. You need to start with something simpler, for example, chopped vegetables, fruits or pieces of fish. Then you can move on to more complex products. However, some, on the contrary, advise starting your training with small objects, arguing that if you learn complex things, then it will be much easier to master simple ones. Aerobatics– it’s neat and easy to eat rice and noodles with chopsticks. But this will happen only after a couple of weeks, or even months of constant practice. So learn something simpler. And only when you learn how to handle different dishes normally, go to a Chinese restaurant.

By the way, beginners are advised to use either wooden or bamboo sticks. They are light, but due to their slightly rough texture, they are very easy to pick up food and hold it. It is much more difficult to work with plastic and metal sticks. Therefore, there is no point in starting your training on them. Another interesting fact, which can help you: there are both disposable and reusable chopsticks. The latter must be handled with care. You can either buy them for yourself or find them in some Asian restaurant. Reusable chopsticks look very nice. Sometimes you can see real works of art, carefully polished and decorated with various patterns. Previously, they were often made from semi-precious and even precious metals. Nowadays, such cutlery is practically not used in everyday life. But the desire to decorate my cutlery and enjoy the little things in life remains.

Separately, it is worth discussing the issue of etiquette. For example, the peculiarities of sharing food at a Chinese table may seem strange to many. Traditional lunch and festive table in Asia it is filled with large dishes. Initially, no one divides the food into portions, and everyone can help themselves to as much as they want. This must be done carefully. And it is important to remember that after you have already eaten with your chopsticks, it is very unsightly to put them into a common plate. Therefore, you need to either use other edges of the chopsticks, or find common chopsticks on the table that no one has eaten with yet. You can also use them to calmly pick up your refills and put the spare cutlery aside. Also remember that if the common plate is filled with a variety of food, then you need to choose what exactly you will serve before you put your chopsticks into the dish. You can’t pick at your food, choosing the tastiest morsels.

Many novice connoisseurs of Asian culture do not know what to do with chopsticks when they are not being used for eating. The Chinese, as well as other Asians, have many prejudices associated with feasts. So, for example, if you stick chopsticks into your food between meals, this will be perceived negatively. The fact is that such a gesture is a bad omen, because such a design looks like incense at a traditional Asian funeral.

Also, you should not pierce food with chopsticks or prick individual pieces on them. Remember, this is not a fork, and if you can’t pick up food with chopsticks, it’s better to ask to change the cutlery. Attempts to pierce food look very uncivilized if you look at this action through the eyes of an Asian. However, asking for a spoon or fork instead of chopsticks can also offend the feelings of your table neighbor. But the Chinese, nevertheless, are much more loyal to this than the Japanese, who honor all traditions.

You should also not try to pass food to someone by transferring it from one cutlery to another. This is also a funeral tradition, and such actions will be perceived negatively. The desire to point at someone with the sharp edges of chopsticks is also considered uncivilized. However, this should not be a culture shock for you, because such actions are considered ugly in any country. Actually, the most best option– simply place the chopsticks next to the plate when you are not using them to eat food. You need to place the cutlery on the left side, without crossing the chopsticks.

Several more are associated with the use of Chinese chopsticks important points. Firstly, although sticks (especially wooden ones) may look like toothpicks, you definitely shouldn’t use them to pick your teeth. This looks pathetic and is considered very uncultured. You should also not hit the plate with chopsticks, even as a joke. This will cause bewilderment to your dining companions, because this is what beggars have always done in China.

Chopsticks are difficult to master, but for those who have learned to master them perfectly, they are a convenient and versatile cutlery.

History of Chinese chopsticks

The history of Chinese chopsticks goes back several thousand years. Scientists believe that they were first used in China before our era. According to one version, this happened during the reign of the Shang-Yin dynasty (approximately 1764-1027 BC).

But the historical notes of Sima Qian, written during the Han Dynasty, say that Emperor Zhou used ivory chopsticks about 4,000 years ago. It follows from this that the first Chinese chopsticks appeared even before the Shang-Yin dynasty.

Chinese chronicles indicate that in those days only the emperor and his entourage used chopsticks, and only in 700-800 AD did they enter the homes of the common people.

There is a version that initially chopsticks were needed only when preparing food wrapped in leaves. It was with their help that cooks quickly and deftly moved hot stones and turned over pieces of meat, fish and vegetables. Later, sticks became a replacement for a long-handled scoop called a “bi.”

If previously prepared food was removed from the dish with this spoon (a “bi” scoop), then with the advent of chopsticks the need for it disappeared. Now the fashion for sticks is popular all over the world.

What types of chopsticks are there?

What the first chopsticks were made of can be guessed by their name “kuaizu”, containing a root with the meaning “bamboo”. The bamboo trunk was split in two, and its halves were folded, resulting in the sticks resembling tweezers. The separate form of kuaizu was acquired much later, and has remained in this form to this day.

Now chopsticks are made from a variety of materials: plastic, bone, metal (including gold and silver). But most often, wood of various species is used for their production. Among them are pine, cypress, plum, maple, cedar, willow, black or purple sandalwood.

Chopsticks can be disposable, like those served in Chinese, Japanese or Vietnamese restaurants, or reusable, which are purchased for constant use and stored at home along with other cutlery.

Such kuaizu can be a real work of art: they are painted and varnished, decorated with ornaments and inlaid with metal and mother-of-pearl.

The appearance of chopsticks is also varied: pyramidal in shape, with thick or thin ends, flat. Their cross-section can be round, oval, square, with rounded corners.

The tradition of eating with chopsticks from the Chinese was adopted by the Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese and other peoples of the East, but this happened only in the 12th century. In each of these countries, chopsticks look different.

Japanese hashi are also made of wood, but they are shorter than Chinese kuaizu and have more pointed ends. There are special stands for chopsticks in Japan: hasioki. This name is formed by adding the verbal noun oki from the verb oku - put, leave. Hasioki are made from ceramics, wood and bamboo and are often of artistic value.

Koreans eat with very thin chopsticks, made mostly of metal.

How to use Chinese chopsticks correctly

Characteristic dishes have their own cutlery. You wouldn't eat soup with a fork, would you? In this article we will learn how to use Chinese chopsticks. It's not difficult at all.

1. Relax your hand. Straighten your index and middle fingers, and bend your ring and little fingers slightly.

2. Then take one stick (at a distance of one third from the upper end) between the thumb and forefinger right hand. Hold the stick with the thumb and ring fingers so that the index, middle and thumb form a ring.

3. Take the second stick, placing it parallel to the first, at a distance of 15 millimeters. When the middle finger straightens, the sticks move apart.

4. Bring the chopsticks together, bending the index finger, and pinch with the tips what they want to put into the mouth. In addition, if the piece is too large, you can use chopsticks to separate it, but only very carefully.

Table culture with Chinese chopsticks

Since Chinese chopsticks are part of the culture, there are certain rules behavior at the table when using them. In general, the set of rules for using khasi is as follows:

• Do not tap your chopsticks on the table, plate or other objects to call the waiter.
• Do not “draw” with chopsticks on the table, do not “wander” aimlessly around the food with chopsticks.
• Before you reach for your chopsticks, choose a piece.
• Always take food from the top, do not poke around in the bowl with chopsticks in search of the best piece. If you touch food, eat.
• Don't stick food on sticks.
• Do not shake the chopsticks to cool the piece.
• Do not put your face in the bowl or bring it too close to your mouth and then use chopsticks to stuff food into your mouth.
• Do not compact food brought to your mouth using chopsticks.
• Don't lick the chopsticks.
• Don't just keep chopsticks in your mouth.
• When not using chopsticks, place them with the sharp ends to the left.
• Never pass food with chopsticks to another person.
• Never point or wave chopsticks in the air.
• Do not pull the plate towards you with chopsticks, always pick it up.
• Place your chopsticks on the table before asking for more rice.
• Do not clasp two chopsticks in your fist: the Japanese perceive this gesture as threatening.
• Never stick your chopsticks into the rice. This is prohibited and is only served to the dead before a funeral.
• Do not place chopsticks across the cup.
• After you have finished eating, place your chopsticks on a rack (hashioka).

Video lesson “How to hold Chinese chopsticks correctly”

I’m ashamed to admit, but I just recently learned how to use sushi chopsticks correctly) And when I still didn’t know how to hold these “smart” chopsticks in my hands, I smartly refused invitations to a Japanese restaurant, citing that I hate sushi and raw fish))) Maybe the information is still relevant for some of you, my dear readers? Then you are welcome to view the master class in photographs. In Japanese dishes, the ingredients are always finely chopped, so the knife as a cutlery becomes superfluous. However, it is difficult to pick up small pieces with a fork; in this case, chopsticks are an ideal device. Learning to use chopsticks is not as difficult as it may seem

So, let’s look at how to use “smart” sushi chopsticks correctly) By the way, in addition to chopsticks, there are also watches, also smart and quite advanced))) They were once described by science fiction writers, and you and I have a unique opportunity to use them in Everyday life. You can look at smart watches and purchase them in the online store ex-power.ru. Here you will find a catalog of the most modern, functional, high-quality and interesting models watches from different manufacturers. What can smart watches do? And they have a demonstration of SMS messages, mail and the name of the caller, support for a function in iOS 7 that provides interaction with the notification center (on the watch screen you can read notifications from any iOS software registered in the notification center) and much more.

Typically, sushi sticks are served in paper packaging like this:

Separating the sticks

And we are considering)

Please note that one end of the stick is narrower or wider than the other

The chopsticks should be held with the wide end towards the hand and the sharp end towards the sushi

The hand should be relaxed, the thumb facing toward you, the index and middle finger slightly extended forward.

First, take one stick (at a distance of one third from the upper end) between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand. Hold the stick with the thumb and ring fingers so that the index, middle and thumb form a ring.

The second stick is taken, placing it parallel to the first, at a distance of 15 mm. When the middle finger straightens, the sticks move apart.

They bring the sticks together, bending the index finger, and pinch with the tips what they want to put into the mouth. In addition, if the piece is too large, you can use chopsticks to separate it, but only very carefully.

Based on materials from the site http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-use-chop-sticks/?ALLSTEPS

The Japanese-themed celebration is about to begin. The tables are laden with exquisite oriental dishes. But instead of traditional forks, the table is set with wonderful chopsticks. This is an integral oriental utensil for eating, which the Japanese call hashi, and the Chinese call kuaizi.

Its centuries-old history, delicate etiquette and amazing design require certain skills to use. To feel comfortable in restaurants serving Japanese cuisine or visiting friends who are fond of sushi, you should learn how to use this cutlery correctly.

Khasi: history and traditions

Historical chronicles and archaeological research have established that China is considered the birthplace of chopsticks. According to legend, such cutlery appeared during the reign of the Shang approximately 3 thousand years ago. This method of eating food was invented by the historical ancestor Yu, who showed considerable ingenuity and pulled out a piece of meat from a boiling cauldron with two broken branches. Since this prevented him from scalding his fingers with boiling water, his experience was quickly passed on to other people.

The Hashi entered Japanese culture during the Bronze Age. At first they were used only at the imperial court, but after centuries the Khasis became available to the lower strata of society. They are so ingrained in the Japanese mentality that over time they turned from cutlery into a sacred symbol.

What types of sushi chopsticks are there?

Sushi sticks in their original form were made of wood and looked like a split bamboo trunk, which on one side had two points, and on the other remained solid. The cross section of the hasi could be round or square, and the sharp end could be conical or pyramidal.

In the catering industry, disposable chopsticks (waribashi) are mainly used. They resemble a half-sawn cylindrical piece of wood or plastic that needs to be broken before eating. This is considered a sign that no one has ever eaten with chopsticks. They are served in restaurants and packaged in sterile bags with the establishment's logo.

The modern variety of reusable chopsticks (nuribashi) allows you to choose chopsticks for every taste and color. They are manufactured different forms and sizes, with colorful designs or hieroglyphs, and sometimes they are even inlaid precious stones. This device is served on a hasioki stand.

Chopsticks are made from the following materials:

• Wood species (bamboo, maple, sandalwood, cypress, plum).
• Precious metals (silver, gold, steel).
• Exotic raw materials (ivory, deer horns, crystal).
• Plastic.

How should you hold sushi chopsticks?

To learn how to deftly manipulate sushi chopsticks, you need to hold them correctly between your fingers:

• It is necessary to make a basis for fixing the sticks. To do this, you need to press your little finger and ring finger and bend them towards the middle of your palm. The middle finger paired with the index finger should lean forward a little.

• The thick end of the lower hashi should be placed in the hole between the thumb and index finger. The tip of the hashi should rest on the nail phalanx of the middle finger.

• Now the thick end of the upper hisi needs to be placed on the index finger, and its position should be fixed with the bun of the thumb. A pencil holds about the same way.

During the meal, the lower stick should remain fixed, and all manipulations should be carried out with the upper stick. To grab food, you need to straighten your little finger and ring finger, spread your chopsticks, grab a piece of food, and then bend your fingers again and bring the food to your mouth.

Advice! If you use special sticks with a holder (baby sticks or clothespin sticks), you need to manipulate them like tweezers, adjusting the clamping process with your middle finger.

It will take some time to achieve positive results, so you can practice a little at home by catching small objects with chopsticks, such as beans or corn. Over time, your fingers will become dexterous and the hashi control process will become automatic.

A few etiquette rules

Over the course of a couple of thousand years, the ritual of eating with chopsticks has acquired many traditions, rules and prohibitions. Of course, different nationalities have their own ethnic customs, but in general they have many similarities.

The main principle of using hashi is unquestioning respect for this sacred instrument.

Chopsticks are only allowed to pick up, place or stir food, and all other manipulations are considered notes of bad taste. Therefore, if you are planning to visit eastern countries or often visit elite Japanese restaurants, you need to know some features of the culture of using hashi chopsticks:

1. It is forbidden to prick food on the tip of chopsticks or stick them into a plate with a dish.
2. It is unacceptable to fiddle with chopsticks in the dishes in search of a more appetizing piece.
3. To attract the attention of service personnel, it is prohibited to knock on the dishes with chopsticks.
4. If you take a portioned piece with chopsticks, it must definitely get into your mouth. It is indecent to put food back on the plate.
5. Don't wave your hashi, lick it, or point it in anyone's direction.
6. Do not place chopsticks in a vertical position. This is reminiscent of the ritual of placing scented candles for the deceased.
7. The strictest taboo is considered to be transferring food from one plate to another with chopsticks. In Japan, there is a ritual of placing the bones of a cremated body with chopsticks into a funeral urn.
8. Hashi clenched in a fist is considered a threat signal.

• One third of the population uses sushi chopsticks as their main cutlery, another third prefers forks and spoons, and the rest eat with their hands.
• In Japan, Hashi is considered the most the best gift for any celebration. They are given to newlyweds as a symbol of longevity, health and good luck.
• On the hundredth day after birth, babies are presented with their first chopsticks, which they begin to eat from the age of one.
• Chopsticks are considered a purely personal item, so no Japanese person who respects tradition will allow himself to eat with someone else’s chopsticks.
• The unique mental abilities of the Japanese and Chinese are attributed to highly developed hand motor skills, which are improved through the use of hashi from an early age.
• For eating food, only sushi chopsticks are used in four countries of the world: China, Japan, as well as Korea and Vietnam.
• The Chinese use about 40 billion pairs of Waribashi every year.
• In the 17th century, silver sticks were made to detect poison in food. At that time, arsenic was used as a poison, upon contact with which the silver changed color.
• In Korea, they use metal chopsticks for sushi.

Even if you are not a fan of sushi, learning how to eat with sushi chopsticks will still be a good idea. This is quite easy to do, you just need to get the hang of it a little. After all, you can be invited to a Japanese-style lunch at any time. In addition, in the process of learning a new culture, you will learn a lot of interesting things and have fun.