How to use chopsticks?

Photo by FiveRings in Wikipedia article on chopsticks.
From top to bottom: Plastic chopsticks from Taiwan, porcelain chopsticks from mainland China, bamboo chopsticks from Tibet, palmwood chopsticks from Indonesia (Vietnamese style), stainless flat chopsticks from Korea (plus a matching spoon), a Japanese couple's set (two pairs), Japanese child's chopsticks, and disposable "waribashi" (in wrapper)

Where might you need or want to use chopsticks?  In Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand^[ and to a much lesser extent Philippines. Or in restaurants from those countries.

How to use chopsticks?

Hold a pen as if you are about to write, between your thumb and first (next) finger, resting it on your middle finger. waggle the pen up and down. Easy, isn't it!

Add another pen next to it, balancing on the middle finger.Bring the points of the two pens together.  Waggle the first pen, your imaginary chopstick, by pressing down and up with your first finger (the one next to the thumb. So the point touches the point of the other pen.

If necessary, bring your middle finger further up away from the points, so the two points can meed.
Point the two points downwards onto an imaginary plate, such as a piece of white paper.

Practising
Imagine you are talking to somebody. Keep eating the food whilst listening to what your boss or host or guest is saying. It's like riding a bicycle. If you concentrate on something else, you find it much easier.

Then imagine that a bird or monkey is trying to grab hold of your food. You quickly grab hold of the food. If you are determined to do it, instead of hesitant, it is much easier.

The lower pen is held by the middle and fourth finger. As it moves up and down, you can see that you can grab something.

Get Guidance
If you are in a Chinese or Japanese or Korean restaurant, they will probably offer you a knife and fork. However, take the opportunity to ask for a pair of chopsticks. Practise on your own, or ask somebody to show you, a friend, or a waiter, or even somebody at the next table.

If you don't want to practise or delay eating in a grand restaurant, start in a hawker centre in Singapore (a food court). Chopsticks are widely available. Just ask a stranger at the same long table to show you.

Even if you cannot speak Mandarin and they cannot speak English, you can show them the chopsticks, and frown and shrug and look puzzled and hold your palm out towards your right as a question. They will be amused, show you how, all smiles.

Secret Rehearsal?
If you don't want to reveal to your host or guest that you cannot do it, you could arrive first and have a practise.

Otherwise, just ask your host or guest. They will be delighted to show off their skill and superior knowledge.

If you have children in your group, they are often less shy and like to learn a new skill. Show them what to do, then ask them to demonstrate to your guests.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.