Using Chopsticks
A chinese Spoon
Don't be embarrassed by using chopsticks poorly or not using them at all. The main thing is that you enjoy the food. Food is so important in Chinese culture, and the Chinese are such a practical people, that all around you will most likely be fine with whatever method you use to eat. They will be very impressed though if you can use chopsticks proficiently.
In large restaurants forks may be available and all restaurants will have spoons, though they may be of the ceramic Chinese leaf or boat-shaped design (see picture right). We recommend giving chopsticks a try as part of the cultural experience. Once they are mastered you should find they are the best thing for picking up most medium-sized pieces of food, and certainly the superior utensil for noodles.
Chinese Chopsticks Chinese chopsticks
The standard way to hold chopsticks is as per the picture on the right. Start with an open right hand, thumb uppermost. Put the middle of the first chopstick on the third finger and the butt of the chopstick in between thumb and forefinger. Grip the middle of the second chopstick in between thumb, forefinger and second finger as you might a pen, tapered eating end facing forwards, then you're ready to begin.
The first chopstick remains stationary, held in place by the middle of the thumb. The second chopstick can move to grip the food by bending the forefinger and second finger. To lift food that is not easy to grip, e.g. soft rice or tofu, hold the chopsticks a small distance apart, get underneath the piece of food and get it well balanced before lifting it. For more on chopsticks see Odds and Ends of Chinese Food.
Also read mistakes with your chopsticks.