How To

How to Use Chopsticks

By eHow Food & Drink Editor
How to Use Chopsticks
Rate: (296 Ratings)

Practice makes perfect when it comes to using chopsticks. It may look complicated but the key is that the bottom chopstick remains still while the upper chopstick moves to grasp the food. Here are a few steps to eating with chopsticks in no time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Hold one chopstick between your thumb and middle finger. Position the chopstick so that it lies at the base of your thumb (on the joint) and at the lower joint of the middle finger. This chopstick shouldn't touch the forefinger.

  2. Step 2

    Place the other chopstick between your thumb and forefinger. The side of the chopstick should rest against the tip of your thumb; the top of the chopstick should rest against the pad of your forefinger.

  3. Step 3

    Be sure the tips of the chopsticks are parallel.

  4. Step 4

    Keep the first chopstick stationary as you practice moving the second chopstick toward the stationary one.

  5. Step 5

    Use this technique to position the chopsticks around a piece of food.

  6. Step 6

    Hold the food firmly as you lift it toward your mouth.

Tips & Warnings
  • If you have trouble maneuvering the chopsticks, try leaning the second chopstick against your middle finger as well for extra support.
  • Though you may be tempted to spear food with your chopsticks as an act of desperation, spearing is considered impolite.

Comments  

| View All 58 Comments
Flag This Comment

on 6/20/2008 great now i understood.

Flag This Comment

on 6/8/2008 thoroughly agree with everything said here. Just an extra little tippy.

FOR THOSE OF US WITH BIG HANDS, MAKE SURE YOU GET BIG STICKS !!!! YOU CAN FIND THEM AS THEY ARE GENERALLY NOT JUST WOODEN, THEY HAVE LIKE A " HANDLE " ON THEM.

Just a little addendum for ya !

WatchDoit said

Flag This Comment

on 6/5/2008 I found another cool video that helps you learn how to use chopsticks: http://www.watchdoit.com/watch.aspx?Video=gcrBZGksrME

Flag This Comment

on 5/27/2008 This is really cool! My kids love using chopsticks on occasion!

Flag This Comment

on 5/22/2008 Believe or not, not everyone in China knows how to use chopsticks.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

eHow Article: How to Use Chopsticks

Have you done this? Click here to let us know.

I Did This

Related Ads

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

eHow Food and Drink
eHow_eHow Food and Drink