Eight Rules on the Tea Table

Thursday, January 12, 2023

In China, the act of tea drinking holds a profound significance, and today we shall delve into the realm of tea and acquire some enlightening insights.

Tea, 茶, cha

chá dao4 qī fēn mǎn
茶  倒  七 分  满
Don’t fill your tea too full

chá dao4 duō le，kè rén rónɡ yì tànɡ dào shǒu，yǒu qī kè de yì sī
茶  倒  多  了，客 人  容   易 烫   到  手  ，有  欺 客 的 意 思
Too much tea, the guests will burn hands easily, there is the meaning of bullying

tóu chá bì xū dao4 diào
头  茶  必 须 倒  掉 
The efirst ta must be poured out

tóu dào chá yǒu zá zhì，bú yí yǐn yònɡ，rànɡ kè rén hē tóu dào chá，jiù shì wú rǔ kè rén
头  道  茶  有  杂 质 ，不 宜 饮  用  ，让   客 人  喝 头  道  茶 ，就  是  侮辱客人
The first tea is not suitable for drinking due to impurity. Letting the guests drink the first tea is to insult the guests

xiān zūn lǎo，hòu bēi yòu
先   尊  老 ，后  卑  幼
First respect the old, then humble the young

dì yī cì zhēn chá，bì xū xiān zūn lǎo，hòu bēi yòu，jiē xià lái kě yǐ àn zuò wèi yī cì zhēn chá
第 一 次 斟   茶 ，必 须 先   尊  老 ，后  卑  幼 ，接  下  来  可 以 按 座 位 依次斟  茶
The first time to pour tea, must first respect the old, after the humble, next can be filled by the seat in turn

xiān kè hòu zhǔ，fù zé zhǔ chá de rén bì xū yào zuì hòu yī ɡè cái nénɡ hē
先   客 后  主 ，负 责 煮  茶  的 人  必 须 要  最  后  一 个 才  能   喝
The person who makes the tea must be the last one to drink it

chá bēi qīnɡ ná qīnɡ fànɡ，kè rén hē chá shí，yīnɡ ɡāi qīnɡ ná qīnɡ fànɡ，jìn liànɡ bú yào fā chū shēnɡ yīn
茶  杯  轻   拿 轻   放  ，客 人  喝 茶  时 ，应   该  轻   拿 轻   放  ，尽  量    不要 发出 声   音
The teacup should be handled gently. When the guests drink tea, they should be handled gently and try not to make a sound

hē chá shí bú yào zhòu méi，fǒu zé huì rànɡ zhǔ rén rèn wéi chá bú hǎo，dài màn le kè rén
喝 茶  时  不 要  皱   眉 ，否  则 会  让   主  人  认  为  茶  不 好 ，怠  慢  了 客人
Do not frown when drinking tea, otherwise it will let the host think the tea is not good, neglect the guests

xīn kè huàn chá，rú ɡuǒ zhōnɡ tú yǒu xīn de kè rén jiā rù，zhǔ rén yīnɡ dānɡ chónɡ xīn huàn chá，biǎo shì huān yínɡ
新  客 换   茶 ，如 果  中    途 有  新  的 客 人  加  入，主  人  应   当   重   新 换  茶 ，表  示 欢  迎
New customers for tea, if there are new guests to join, the host should change tea, welcome the guests

chōnɡ hǎo yīnɡ xiān jìnɡ xīn lái de pénɡ yǒu，fǒu zé huì bèi shì wéi dài màn le zhè ɡè rén
冲    好  应   先   敬   新  来  的 朋   友 ，否  则 会  被  视  为  怠  慢  了 这  个人
You should show respect to your new friend, or you will be seen as snubbing him

jí shí huàn chá，chá pào  ɡuò jǐ cì hòu jiù yào huàn le，bú huàn shuō mínɡ zhǔ rén àn xià zhú kè lìnɡ，kè rén yào shì dànɡ lí kāi
及时 换  茶 ，茶  泡   过  几 次 后  就  要  换   了，不 换   说   明   主  人  暗 下  逐  客令  ，客人 要 适 当  离开
Change tea in time,  after a few times to change, do not change, the host  orders to show that guests should leave appropriately

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