The Importance of Living by Dr. Lin Yutang was once the best-selling book in America in 1938. In this book, he explains why Chinese don’t think it is a big deal to make noises when eating. Read it with a sense of humor:
The Chinese have no prudery about food, or about eating it with gusto. When a Chinese drinks a mouthful of good soup, he gives a hearty smack.
Why do the Westerners talk so softly and look so miserable and decent and respectable at their meals? Most Americans haven’t got the good sense to take a chicken drumstick in their hand and chew it clean, but continue to pretend to play at it with a knife and fork, feeling utterly miserable and afraid to say a thing about it. This is criminal when the chicken is really good.
Such is human psychology that if we don’t express our joy, we soon cease to feel it even, and then follow dyspepsia, melancholia, neurasthenia and all the mental ailments peculiar to the adult life.
Believe it or not, many Chinese never realize they make noises when eating, and the noises often go unnoticed by the fellow diners. There are indeed, however, some basic Chinese table manners to follow. (Photo courtesy of whysb.net)
It is not expressing joy, it is expressing low breeding and lack of concern for others. I have heard pigs make less noise.
“low breeding and lack of concern for others” eh? How about those filthy Westerners always wanting to touch your hands in greeting or God forbid, actually trying to hug. Now that’s low breeding.
Puh-leeze, it’s just cultural differences. Try to be a little less condescending before passing judgment, shall we? In China, if your friend invites you to dinner, making those eating noises shows appreciation for the food. It’s actually rude to eat timidly and without a sound as that suggests you are not a fan of your host’s cooking.
Of course, while in Rome, do as the Romans… Chinese should minimize those noises while eating in American/Western establishments where it is considered rude to dine with such gusto.
You said it all. Thank you for commenting.
Also, foods served on the table are often cut into small pieces in China while westerns tend to recut their pieces of steak or fish into smaller ones. Thus Chinese smack their lips to taste the flavor while it becomes impractical for westerns to to smack when they have to chew a lot.
This is just my wild speculation, but I agree this is totally cultural, irrelevant to the judgment of right or wrong.
I’m sorry but I think their eating habits are disgusting, we were at an American diner recently and they seemed to think it’s fine to spear an entire BLT bagel with a fork and fit as much in their mouth at once as possible! Also went to a Michelin star restaurant at the weekend only to have some chinese bloke next to us slurping an entire plate of linguine up in one disgusting noisy mouthful. Put us right off our (very expensive) dinner. The noise they make eating noodle soup – don’t get me started!
I can imagine how those noisy eaters from China did their food, but they probably didn’t even realize the nuisance at all. For a long time, eating with gusto was regarded as a compliment to the food. Even today, many parents encourage their children to eat ‘like a tiger’, considering how hard it is for toddlers to finish their meals.
I guess as China gradually become more westernized, people will accept the etiquette from the occident. By the way, I am a native Chinese, and next time I visit the U.S., I will try to eat as quietly as possible. I promise.