Wendy
Etiquette Of Dinner In China In this day and age, etiquette in China is less and less strict than it had ever been in past. But there are still some basic rules of etiquette nowadays. When you are invited to your friend’s house for dinner, don’t just step into the house. Instead, ask for a pair of slippers which used indoors unless your host asks you to just enter with your own shoes. You are expected to take some gifts to host. They don’t need to be very expensive, but they are not supposed to be too small and simple. One of the best gifts is the characteristic things you bring from your country. Chinese people tend to cook during the meal in order to offer hot dishes. So don’t be disturbed when the hostess leaves occasionally to cook. If someone serves you food which you don't like, it would be impolite to refuse them stiffly. You can accept them friendly but not eat. It's normal to leave food in your bowl when you finish your dinner. Never force yourself to eat all the food in your bowl, or the others may consider that you like the food and give you more. To have dinner with Chinese family may be a special experience for foreigners. Maybe you are not used to it. But, do in Rome as the Romans do, as the saying is.
May 22, 2015 12:51 PM
Corrections · 3
1

Etiquette Of Dinner In China

In this day and age, etiquette in China is less and less strict than it had has [1] ever been in past. But [2] there are still some basic rules of etiquette nowadays.
When you are invited to your friend’s house for dinner, don’t just step into the house. Instead, ask for a pair of slippers which are used indoors, unless your host asks you to just enter with your own shoes.
You are expected to take some gifts to [3] the host. They don’t need to be very expensive, but they are not supposed to be too small and or simple [4]. One of the best gifts is the characteristic things you bring from your country [5].
Chinese people tend to cook during the meal in order to offer hot dishes. So don’t be disturbed when the hostess leaves occasionally to cook.
If someone serves you food which you don't like, it would be impolite to refuse them stiffly [6]. You can accept them friendly graciously but not eat. It's normal to leave food in your bowl when you finish your dinner. Never force yourself to eat all the food in your bowl, or the others may consider that you like the food and will give you more.
To have dinner with a Chinese family may be a special experience for foreigners. Maybe you are not used to it. But, do in Rome as the Romans do, as the saying is goes [7].

May 23, 2015
1

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[1] Why is the word 'has' and not 'had', if you are talking about the past?  Whether you use 'had' or 'has' depends on the time period you mean.

 

If you mean from the past up until some other time in the past, then use the word 'had' (past tense):

-- "A year ago, etiquette in China was less strict than it had ever been in the past."

 

If you mean from the past up until today, then use the word 'has' (past-present tense):

-- "These days, etiquette in China is less strict than it has ever been in the past."

 

It is okay to use your other phrases:

-- "In this day and age, etiquette in China is less and less strict than it has ever been in past."

 

Personally I wouldn't use "less and less" here, but it is okay.  To emphasize the amount to which etiquette is less strict, I would use an intensifier:

-- "In this day and age, etiquette in China is much less strict than it has ever been in past."

 

[2] The word 'yet' would be a better choice here.

 

[3] It would be a little more natural to write the following:

-- "You are expected to take some gifts for the host."

 

[4] I would write the second part of your sentence slightly differently:

-- "They don't need to be very expensive, but they should not be too small or simple."

 

Also, I would not use the word 'simple'.  Something 'simple' could be both expensive and beautiful, and make a wonderful gift.  Perhaps a better word would be 'common'.

-- "They don't need to be very expensive, but they should not be too small or common."

 

[5] You are mixing singular and plural forms here.  You should choose one or the other:

 

Singular:

-- "One of the best gifts is a characteristic thing you bring from your country."

 

Plural:

-- "The best gifts are characteristic things you bring from your country."

-- "Among the best gifts are characteristic things you bring from your country."

 

[6] Because you have said that it would be "impolite to refuse them stiffly," it suggests it would be polite to refuse them without being stiff.  Is that the case?  If not, remove the word 'stiffly':

"If someone serves you food which you don't like, it would be impolite to refuse them."

 

[7] I have only ever heard a different phrasing of this saying:

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

 

----

I wish I had read this essay before I visited China.  I think I may have refused food which I didn't want to eat.

 

Your essay is very well written.  Well done!

May 23, 2015

One more correction:

"In this day and age, etiquette in China is less and less strict than it has ever been in the past."

"In this day and age, etiquette in China is much less strict than it has ever been in the past."

May 23, 2015
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