The main difference between Chinese and western eating habits lies in that dishes in China are placed on the table for everybody to share, while everyone has their own plate of food in the West. Chinese table manners are the traditional eating styles of Chinese people. There are many table manners that one must pay attention to, which date from the time of ancient China, such as how to place the cutlery, how to sit in a banquet, and so on. Under normal conditions, honorable people should take the seats of honor, and humbler ones then sit down according to their status; the elders' seats face the best direction.
中西方饮食习惯的主要区别在于：中国把菜肴放在桌上大家共享，西方则每个人都有自己的食盘。中国的餐桌礼仪是指中国人的传统用餐方式。自中国古代起，就有许多人们必须注意的餐桌礼仪，比如餐具（cutlery）如何摆放，如何在宴会上落座等。通常情况下，尊贵的人应坐尊位（seat of honor），地位较低的人根据各自地位高低相应落座；长者座位的朝向最好。
