While Chinese people are beginning to use utensils like spoons and forks, chopsticks are still the primary way of eating most foods. As such, if you want to really experience an authentic Chinese meal, you have to know how to use chopsticks. Using chopsticks is a skill that usually takes most people a while to get. You shouldn’t expect to learn how to use them right away. Just don’t get discouraged and keep practicing.

Eventually, you’ll get the hang of it. You should think of a pair of chopsticks as a tong to gently pick up food except there are two sticks. Another point to make is that the basic idea behind chopsticks lies in the fact that the bottom chopstick remains still while the upper chopsticks moves up and down to grab food. Try to keep this in mind when learning how to use chopsticks.

  1. You will use two or a pair of chopsticks, and we will just call them the top chopstick and the bottom chopstick. The thin ends of the chopstick will be used to pick up food so place the thicker end closer to top of your hand.
  2. Place one chopstick as you would hold a pen between your thumb, index finger, and middle finger. These three fingers should touch the chopstick about 2/3rd up way from the tip of the chopstick. We will call this the top chopstick.
  3. Turn your hand slightly inward. Adjust the top chopstick so that it is perpendicular (90 degrees) from your forearm and horizontal with the table. Near the top of this chopstick, it should rest below the knuckle of the index finger.
  4. Using your other hand, push the other or bottom chopstick under your thumb and have it sit where the bottom of your thumb and bottom of your index finger meet. There should be only a few inches left near the top of the chopstick. A part of the this chopstick will rest between the bottom nail of the ring finger, but touching the tip of the middle finger. Ultimately, this bottom chopstick will lie between top of the middle and ring finger. Apply slight pressure with the bottom of the thumb to hold the chopstick in place.
  5. Now you have set up your chopsticks. Only move the top chopstick one up and down towards the second chopstick to pick up food. You can hold and extend your middle and index finger to bend the chopstick up and down using the thumb as a pivot point. The tip of the top chopstick will touch the tip of the bottom, stationary chopstick.
  6. Apply very little pressure, if any, at the tips of the chopsticks. Use the strength of the thumb of the top chopstick at the pivot point. Place some pressure on the thumb since it is the pivot point to hold both chopsticks. This thumb will serve as the as the strength to hold the chopstick together to pick up the food. The bottom of the thumb should have slightly more pressure than the top of the thumb since the thumb will hold the bottom chopstick stationary.
  7. You attempt to move the top chopstick down to the bottom chopstick several times to practice. Try it a few more times and practice on a picking up another pair of chopsticks or a pen. It is difficult at first, but it will work for you. Now, you are ready to pick up food and place it in your mouth. You’re now using chopsticks!

Tips to remember:

  1. Try to keep the bottom chopstick as still as possible. Remember to ONLY move the top chopstick.
  2. Remember to practice! The only way to really learn how to use chopsticks is to practice!