Is telling a non-Asian person "you use chopsticks well" really a compliment? I believe that most of the Japanese population says it because they think it's a compliment, but don't you get tired of hea

Yukie

Is telling a non-Asian person "you use chopsticks well" really a compliment? I believe that most of the Japanese population says it because they think it's a compliment, but don't you get tired of hearing things like that? There are many Asian restaurants all over the world and I'd rather like to know what percentage of people can't use chopsticks nowadays... To be honest, I've rarely seen someone, non-Asians, use chopsticks "correctly". No offense, but it's true. I just don't see it as a compliment at all... that's my personal opinion, though. Please tell me your thoughts, thanks.

Aug 2, 2015 2:13 PM

Corrections · 9

Is telling a non-Asian person "you use chopsticks well" really a compliment?

I believe that most of the Japanese population says it because they think it's a compliment, but don't you get tired of hearing things like that?

There are many Asian restaurants all over the world, and I'd rather like to know what percentage of people can't use chopsticks nowadays...

To be honest, I've rarely seen any non-Asians use chopsticks "correctly."
No offense, but it's true.

I just don't see it as a compliment at all...that's my personal opinion, though.
Please tell me your thoughts. Thanks.

<em>This is a well-written essay, so there's not too much to change. I would be careful about the overuse of ellipses (...). As for the content of your essay: in America, at least, people's familiarity with Asian culture really varies a lot from place to place. I can eat anything I want with chopsticks (although probably not "correctly") and never think about it. But other people are different. Overall, it's probably true that enough people can use chopsticks well that one should be careful in giving "compliments" like that.</em>

August 5, 2015

Is telling a non-Asian person "you use chopsticks well" really a compliment?

I believe that most of the Japanese population says it because they think it's a compliment, but don't you get tired of hearing things like that?

There are many Asian restaurants all over the world and I'd rather like to know what percentage of people can't use chopsticks nowadays...

To be honest, I've rarely seen someone, non-Asians, who was not Asian use chopsticks "correctly".
No offense, but it's true.

I just don't see it as a compliment at all... that's my personal opinion, though.
Please tell me your thoughts,. Tthanks.

--- Your English writing looks quite natural! As far as the question, I think it depends on the situation. If I'm having a lot of trouble with chopsticks, or making a mess, I would be pretty surprised to hear anyone say I was using them well. In fact, if a native English speaker said so I would assume he was being sarcastic. ^^;

英語が上手です。質問について、あまりよく分かりません。もし私がお箸を使って、ご飯をテーブルの上にこぼれ出したら、「へー！お上手ですね！」が聞こえてちょっとびっくりするかもしれません。アメリカ人はそう言いたら、皮肉だとおもうかもしれません。

However, I've heard this is normal and generally meant as a sincere compliment, so I wouldn't be upset if someone told me that.

August 2, 2015

Thank you for sharing your story,할아버지 / 祖父.:) I really enjoyed reading your comment!!

August 5, 2015

Yukie, in the context that most non-asians dont use chopsticks until later in life, (I was probably about 35) I dont think it's an offense to know I don't use them exactly correctly. It's enough that I wont starve because I cant get the food in my mouth. To be told by an asian (assumed to be an expert in the subject) that I use chopsticks well would be OK with me, only if I thought they were sincere. When my wife and I discussed travelling Japan, she asked if she needed to used chopsticks. I replied, 'only if you want to eat', so she packed a fork in her handbag :)

August 5, 2015