How to hold chopsticks

How to Hold Chopsticks

Introduction: How to Hold Chopsticks

In this instruction set, you will learn how to properly use chopsticks in the simplest way possible!

Step 1: Pull Apart Chopsticks

Separate chopsticks by pulling apart from the middle.

Step 2: Locate the Tip of the Chopstick

Locate the tip of the chopstick, indicated by the end with the point. This is the side you will use to pick up food.

Step 3: Locate the End of the Chopstick

Locate the end of the chopstick, indicated by the bulkier end.

Step 4: Place Between Thumb and Pointer Finger

Using your dominant hand, pick up one chopstick and place in the space of your hand between thumb and pointer finger.

Step 5: Slide Chopstick a Third of the Way Down From the End

Slide the chopstick one third of the way down from the bulkier end, leaving two-thirds worth of space between the tip of the chopstick and your hand.

Step 6: Fold Middle Finger Down

Fold middle finger down, touching edge of finger to chopstick.

Step 7: Apply Pressure

Squeeze the chopstick in your hand, allowing for enough pressure against edge of the middle finger so that the chopstick doesn’t move.

Step 8: Place Second Chopstick in Hand

Pick up the second chopstick and place between thumb and pointer finger above first chopstick, all while maintaining pressure on the first chopstick.

Step 9: Even Out the Tips of the Chopstick

Use non-dominant hand to even out the tips of the chopsticks.

Step 10: Practice Using Chopsticks

Using your pointer finger and thumb, lift the top chopstick slightly and then lower back down. The bottom chopstick remains still the entire time.

As you move the top chopstick, make sure to keep the tips of the chopsticks in line.

This is how you use chopsticks!

Step 11: Pick Up the Noodle

Using a small range of motion, pick up a noodle!

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How to Hold the Chopsticks Correctly

Have you ever found yourself at a Japanese restaurant, with chopsticks, too embarrassed to ask for knives and forks? Like the Japanese, many other Asian ethnicities have mastered the art of holding chopsticks ever since they were kids. But should you be feeling embarrassed and less capable if you cannot use them right?

While chopsticks may feel a little too difficult to grasp than knives, forks, and spoons, but that doesn’t mean you can never get the hand of its usage. Once you learn how to properly hold chopsticks, you’ll even find it more convenient to use them for every meal.

If you have problems holding your sushi with chopsticks at first, as with many other things in life, always remember the saying, “practice makes perfect.”

Read ahead to find out how you can possibly hold and use chopsticks. We’re confident that by the end of the article, you will be able to hold, not only sushi but all other types of food with this table tool.

Practice, Practice, and Practice Holding Chopsticks

That’s right! Practice placing the top chopstick in your dominant hand, holding the narrow, pointed end facing downwards while the wide end is facing upwards. Remember to grip the chopsticks from the top one-third of its way. Rest it against your middle finger. Also, press the tip of your thumb against it for support.

The bottom chopstick must point towards the same direction as the upper one, aligning the tips of both the sticks evenly. Place this chopstick between the small space of your thumb and index finger, but this time, the chopstick should lean more towards your thumb than your index finger.

Once you have done so, now it’s time for your ring finger to play its role. Position your ring finger in such a way that the first chopstick can rest against it.

Once you’ve learned to grip the chopsticks properly like pen and you’ve positioned them right, make sure your thumb stays still at all times. To open and close the chopsticks move your middle and index fingers. And voilà, just like that, you’ve mastered the art of handling chopsticks with grace!

Pick Your Chopsticks Correctly

Have you come across wooden chopsticks (also known as waribashi)? First of all, take them out of their wrapper and break them apart. Most commonly, rub the sticks against each other to get rid of the stray splinters. However, avoid doing so if you are not around polite company, who might consider this practice to be a chopstick taboo.

If you’re using your right hand to hold the chopsticks, don’t be ashamed to use your left hand to line them up correctly. Make sure that your chopsticks are horizontal and your thumbs are over the chopsticks, too.

While keeping the chopsticks steady with your left hand, move your fingers of the hand of which you are holding the chopsticks to bring them into the correct position. You must wedge the bottom chopstick comfortably in between your index and thumb finger and rest other sides against your ring finger. Place the chopsticks in such a way so that its tips are tightly closed together while the blunt tops are a bit spread apart.

Choose the Right Kind of Chopsticks

The most essential part about holding chopsticks know what size would fit into your hands. Yes, this is absolutely true that chopsticks come in different sizes and there’s an enormous difference between male adult’s hands and children’s hands.

The standard chopsticks that you will find at a Japanese restaurant are 23cm long, usually meant for adult male’s hands. Women are recommended to hold chopsticks that are no more than 21cm long. And for kids, it depends on how old they are.

Kids aged between 1 – 3 years can ideally use chopsticks that are about 13cm long. At 4 years old, kids need chopsticks that are 15cm long. The pattern follows as the child ages, and by the time they reach 12 – 13 years, they are able to use chopsticks that are 20cm long.

Chopstick Taboos and Etiquettes

The tip of the chopsticks should point towards your left. Never lay them over your dish or your plate once you are finished. This is a taboo referred to as Watashi-bashi. And not to forget, never stick your chopsticks vertically directly into a bowl or dish. This is considered as offensive and is known as Tate-bashi.

Chopsticks are strictly used to grab food, and thus you must not poke your food using them as you would do using a fork. This taboo is called sashi-bashi or Tsuki-bashi.

The practice of yose-bashi is strictly frowned upon! Dishes are meant to be passed on by hands, not by chopsticks.

This is typically done at funerals and takes note of the bones of the cremated body. So it’s safe to say that doing so with food will cause anyone to lose their appetite at a dinner table.

Wrapping Up

So, the next time you visit Japan or any other restaurant near you that involves eating with chopsticks, we are sure you will be able to use them properly if you have read our guide on how to properly hold chopsticks. Besides, the loving Japanese locals don’t judge foreigners on their chopstick holding skills, so you don’t have to worry yourself to death.

If you don’t know how to use chopsticks properly, that’s okay! Just make sure you don’t overrule the etiquettes.

How to Hold Chopsticks (So You Don’t Look Totally Clueless)

Chopsticks are probably one of the most versatile utensils ever. Think of them like a fork, knife and pair of tongs all wrapped up into one. You can pretty much use them to eat anything, sushi, ramen, rice, dumplings and veggies to name a few. But, if you’re over the age of 12 and still eating sushi with a fork, listen up (yes, you know who you are). It’s time to finally master the art of chopsticks once and for all. And we’re here to help. Watch the video above and follow these four steps on how to hold chopsticks. You’ve got this.

How to Hold Chopsticks:

1. Start with one chopstick

Rest the first chopstick on the base of your thumb while holding it between your middle and ring fingers.

2. Add a second chopstick

Take the second chopstick and hold it like a pencil, about one-third of the way from its top. It should feel somewhat comfortable. Something to note is that this second chopstick should be pointing the same way as the first chopstick.

3. Master the movement

Finally, move the upper chopstick with your thumb, index and middle fingers simultaneously. When grabbing food, make sure it’s between the lower and upper chopsticks. They key is that the bottom chopstick remains still while only the upper chopstick moves.

4. Get ready to grab

Pick up everything (rice, vegetables and even gummi bears), and never look back.

Of course, we have to recommend that you practice practice practice. In no time you’ll be using them like a pro. Sushi for dinner tonight, anyone?

Additional Reporting by Abby Hepworth and Alexandra Hough

How to Use Chopsticks

Introduction: How to Use Chopsticks

Chopsticks are two-piece of equal length sticks used as a tool of eating commonly used in East Asia and Southeastern Asia. Figure 1 is the simplified Chinese character presents chopsticks. Figure 2 is the Chinese character means fast and figure 3 is the simplified Chinese character means bamboo. This character indicates the material of a normal chopsticks and the reason of using chopsticks. In ancient China, figure 4 is the traditional Chinese character as same as how chopsticks called and written in Japan, which means help. The instructions will help people who do not know how to use chopsticks, but want to try those delicious Asian foods that require chopsticks. To learn how to use chopsticks, you don’t need an engineering degree; but you just need a hand and chopsticks. It might take a few minutes for you to choose the right chopstick to use. I will introduce different types of chopsticks in my instructions. The process of learning how to use chopsticks might just take you 10 minutes, but it will take you a couple days or a couple months to get used to it. It may take you time to learn, but this skill makes you have confidence and feel comfortable when you go to those Asian restaurants that don’t provide you spoons and forks and when you go to Asian countries.

Step 1: Choose the Right Chopsticks

There are several types of chopsticks.
• Bamboo Chopsticks
• Ivory Chopsticks
• Silver Chopsticks
• Metal Chopsticks
1. Don’t choose those chopsticks that have lots of color painting on them.
Warning: those colors contain some carcinogenic martial like the heavy metal lead and the organic solvent benzene.
2. Chopsticks make of metal like silver chopsticks are heavy and have a bad hand grip.
3. Chopsticks make of bone like ivory chopsticks have a perfect hand grip, but feel heavy.
4. Bamboo and wood are the best materials of making chopsticks, but bamboo chopsticks would cause microbial contamination. It needs to be cleaned very often.

Step 2: Hold the First Chopstick

1. Position your hand like you are holding an egg.
2. Have the board side of the chopstick lay on the connection area between your thumb and your index finger.
3. Use the top part of your ring finger, your thumb knuckle and the connect area between your thumb and your index finger to perform like a lever. Don’t hold it hard.

Step 3: Hold the Second Chopstick

1. Keep your hand in the same position as step 2.
2. Use the top part of your middle finger, the lower part of your index finger and the top part of thumb to perform as a lever. Don’t hold it hard.

Step 4: Close the Chopsticks

1. Keep your first chopstick in the original position.
2. Push your middle finger, and the second chopstick will get close to the first chopstick.

Step 5: Open the Chopsticks

1. Keep your first chopstick in the original position.
2. Loose the strength on the middle finger. The second chopstick lever will automatically make your chopsticks open.

Step 6: Keep Practicing

Keep Practicing every day and you will get used to using chopsticks.

Step 7: Tips

Learning how to use chopsticks is not just learning how to use it to eat food, but also to learn the related Chinese table manners, which are very complex. Below are some actions you are not supposed to do when you are using chopsticks in some Asian countries.
• Don’t use chopsticks unpaired in length. In Chinese culture, it symbolizes bad luck.
• Don’t keep the chopsticks in the mouth and make some weird noise. It is rude.
• Don’t hit the bowl with your chopsticks, because in ancient China, only baggers use chopsticks to hit the bowl to get attention from other people.
• Don’t use chopsticks to search food in a dish. In China, people don’t eat in their own dishes. so pick up the food you first touch.
• Don’t drop food into another dish when you are trying to take them. It would embarrass you if you make this mistake.
• Don’t use the other end of the chopsticks to pick up food. Chinese believe only gormandizers do so.
• Don’t stick the chopsticks into the food served on the table. In Chinese culture, it is as insulting as putting one’s middle finger at other people.
• Don’t stick the chopsticks uprightly into the rice while you are helping others to fill their bowls. You may consider it convenient but Chinese not: it’s offensive for them because it makes the chopsticks like tombstone.
• Don’t cross your chopsticks on the table while you are not using them. For Chinese it shows your dissatisfaction with the food, just as teachers give red crosses to the wrong answers.
• Don’t drop your chopsticks onto the ground while you are eating. Chinese believe that their ancestors are living underground. So the chopsticks hitting the ground will disturb the ancestors. If you have already made this mistake, you should pick up the chopsticks and use them to draw cross on the ground: first east to west, then south to north, murmuring “My fault. My fault. I shall die.”
• Don’t put your chopsticks beside the dishes with their ends up and pointing to other people at the table. For Chinese it is as rude as pointing your finger at someone while you are speaking to him.

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Chopsticks etiquette: how to use chopsticks the right way

Don’t be the only one at the table using a knife and fork! Here you’ll find everything you need to know about how to use chopsticks properly. Chop-chop! Let’s get to it.

Updated May 6, 2022

Key steps

Hold chopsticks in your dominant hand.

Keep the lower chopstick stationary.

Use your thumb, forefinger and middle finger to move the upper chopstick.

Pick up food between the two chopsticks.

Never use one chopstick alone.

Clean them thoroughly between uses.

Use dowel rods as homemade chopsticks.

Are sushi rolls even sushi rolls if you have to use a fork? Technically, yes, but it’s always a little embarrassing to be shown up by delicate chopstick etiquette when you’re the only one at the table using a knife and fork! Worry not. Learn how to use chopsticks properly with this super simple step-by-step how to use chopsticks guide below and discover ideas for how to make chopsticks at home.

Chopsticks are easy to use once you know how, but ensure you follow proper chopstick etiquette. For example, never leave your chopsticks in rice — in some countries this is considered to be bad manners as well as bad luck!

How to use chopsticks: a step-by-step guide

If you’re wondering how to use chopsticks properly, it’s a two-part process. First, you’ll need to learn how to hold chopsticks, before mastering the chopstick etiquette for how to use them. Have a look at these simple steps to get you started:

How to hold chopsticks:

Lay the chopsticks next to one another on the table. The narrow end should face away from your dominant hand.

Grab them using your dominant hand, with the outside edge of your hand (little finger side!) near the end of the chopsticks.

Using your other hand, hold the chopsticks in line. Place your dominant hand on the underside of the chopsticks.

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Your thumb should rest over the top of the chopsticks.

The chopsticks should sit in a sideways v shape.

The top chopsticks should rest on your middle finger, with your forefinger resting on top.

The lower chopstick should rest on your ring with your little finger resting beneath, to support the chopsticks.

How to use chopsticks:

The bottom chopstick should always remain stationary.

Ensure it is well supported by your small finger and held in place by the base of your thumb.

Using your thumb, forefinger and middle finger, move the upper of the two chopsticks. You should be able to move it away from and back towards the lower chopstick. В В

Pick food up between the two chopsticks.

To ensure you are using your chopsticks properly and sticking to chopstick etiquette, bear in mind the following points:

Never use one chop stick on its own to spear food.

You shouldn’t pass food from your chopsticks to someone else’s.

Avoid leaving your chopsticks crossed on the plate, bowl or table. They should be placed flat next to the bowl or on a chopstick rest.

Don’t leave chopsticks upright in rice, it is believed to bring bad luck.

Rest your chopsticks next to one another on the bowl to indicate you are done with your meal.

How to clean chopsticks:

If you have plastic or metal chopsticks, start by soaking them in lukewarm soapy water for two minutes.

If you have wooden chopsticks, they need only be soaked in the soapy water for a maximum of 30 seconds.

Clean them thoroughly using a sponge or soft bristled brush and the soapy water.

Wipe them dry using a soft cotton cloth.

To store them correctly, it is best to wrap them in a cloth or paper.

How to make chopsticks with household items: ideas for homemade chopsticks

If you’re planning a nice dinner party with Japanese or Chinese food on the menu, but don’t have chopsticks to hand – don’t panic! There’s a very simple answer to how to make chopsticks at home, and that answer is – dowel rods! You will need to whittle them into shape so make sure you have a sharp knife to hand and always take care. Blunt the end using sandpaper to avoid any splitters!

With this super simple guide, you not only know how to use chopsticks properly, but also how to hold them, clean them and even make your own! For more household cleaning advice, have a look at this manual for how to clean silver and stainless steel cutlery.

Do you want to learn which household cleaning tasks cause the most stress?В Then read our Heated Household data analysis.В

Frequently asked questions on using chopsticks the right way

Can you put wooden chopsticks in the dishwasher?

We do not recommend that you put wooden chopsticks in the dishwasher. The detergents and cleansing cycle of the dishwasher could cause damage to the finish of your chopsticks and shorten their lifespan.

Are chopsticks compostable?

The only chopsticks you should be placing into your compost are ones made of bamboo. This natural material will degrade quickly and not cause any harm to the environment in the process. Plastic chopsticks will need to be recycled.

Can you reuse disposable chopsticks?

Bamboo and wooden chopsticks should be reused, just ensure you wash and care for them as you would other wooden utensils to allow you to use them again and again.

How long can you use wooden chopsticks?

When it comes to wooden chopsticks, we recommend you change them every 3 – 6 months. If you notice that the wood is becoming broken or frayed, pop them onto the compost and swap them out for new ones.