{"id":9577,"date":"2019-11-14T13:00:48","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stopasia.com\/?p=9577"},"modified":"2023-11-14T14:58:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T14:58:13","slug":"what-is-the-asian-version-of-bon-appetit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stopasia.com\/blog\/what-is-the-asian-version-of-bon-appetit\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Asian version of Bon App\u00e9tit?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re in Asia<\/a> as a foreigner, the main focus usually falls on the food. Asian cuisine is a masterful – as strange as it might sound, look or taste! What’s important, however, is not only to know the names of the dishes but to be acquainted with the dining etiquette in different Asian countries. How can you politely wish \u201cgood appetite\u201d to someone in Korea? How can you eagerly express gratitude for the food in Japan? Let’s get right to it!<\/p>\n

What do Japanese people say before or after a meal?<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ll begin with the country of the rising sun! The word for “meal” in Japanese is gohan (\u3054\u98ef). A traditional Japanese meal is a serving of plain white rice, along with a main dish, some side dishes, soup, and pickled vegetables. Before eating, Japanese people say “itadakimasu (\u3044\u305f\u3060\u304d\u307e\u3059),” a polite phrase meaning “I humbly receive this food”. This expresses thanks to whoever worked to prepare the meal. After eating, people once again express their thanks for the meal by saying “gochiso sama deshita (\u3054\u3061\u305d\u3046\u3055\u307e\u3067\u3057\u305f)”, which literally means “it was quite a feast”. You\u2019ll often see people bringing their palms together while saying those phrases \u2013 this is yet another way to show respect.<\/p>\n

The Japanese phrases commonly used on the dining table.<\/h2>\n

\"AsianOishii (\u7f8e\u5473\u3057\u3044) – \u201cThe food tastes delicious\u201d. A great way to butter up the chef is to say this phrase mid-chew so that the people you\u2019re eating with know just how much you\u2019re enjoying the food.
\nOkawari (\u304a\u304b\u308f\u308a) means \u201cMore food, please\u201d. The best time to say it is when you\u2019d like another serving of a particular dish because you\u2019re still hungry, or because you\u2019ve found your new favorite Japanese food even though you\u2019re stuffed.
\nOnaka ga ippai (\u304a\u8179\u304c\u3044\u3063\u3071\u3044) means \u201cI\u2019m full.\u201d<\/p>\n

What about Korea, the land of Kimchi?<\/h2>\n

If you are a fan of Asian cuisine you should definitely consider Korean food? Do you know how to eat it in the correct way? Let’s see.<\/p>\n

\"AsianKorean society is polite; be appreciative and it will go a long way. If you feel confident in your Korean, you can say \u2018jal meokkessumnida(\uc798 \uba39\uaca0\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4)\u2019 before the meal \u2014 similar to the Japanese \u2018itadakimasu\u2019, it roughly translates to \u2018I will eat well\u2019. After the meal, you can say \u2018jal meogeosseumnida(\uc798 \uba39\uc5c8\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4)\u2019 to signal that you have indeed eaten well and are happy.<\/p>\n

Other important details of Korean table etiquette include always using your utensils (meaning you shouldn\u2019t touch food with your hands), and also showing respect for the elderly by always letting them start eating first.<\/p>\n

What about chopsticks? Your chopsticks should be balanced on the edge of your plate when not in use; they should never rest on any dish during the meal. They definitely shouldn\u2019t be stuck into your rice bowl, as this is thought to bring bad luck; it looks similar to Korean funeral rites, where sticks of incense are stuck vertically into the ground and burned.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in China<\/h2>\n

How about Chinese Spinach Noodles or Fried Mashi? No doubt you’re well-acquainted with Chinese cuisine, but let’s check if you\u2019re familiar with their table manners as well.<\/p>\n

\"AsianDid you know that Chinese people don’t usually say anything before digging in? I was surprised as well. However, if you still want to be polite and express it verbally, the typical phrase spoken when serving food is q\u01d0ng m\u00e0n y\u00f2ng (\u8acb\u6162\u7528). It literally means “please eat slowly”, but is better translated as “enjoy your meal”, and serves the same function as the French \u2018bon app\u00e9tit\u2019.
\nWhile there might not be many spoken gestures, you\u2019d be wrong to conclude that there is no dining etiquette in China. You should always consider other people on the table and try your best to maintain the harmony between you. Chinese people don’t usually order food individually, they\u2019d rather split everything on the table with their companions – so you would naturally need to concentrate on your food and your companions. Always let older people eat first and pick up your bowl with your thumb on the mouth of the bowl.<\/p>\n

The Chinese\u2019s chopsticks rules:<\/h2>\n