1.pre-dinner
To get started on the right foot(想要有个好的开始), it"s important to arrive on time. Too early or too late can cause disruption（引起不便） on the hosts" plans for the meal. If you know you"re going to be more than five minutes late, calling to let the others know you"re on your way will guarantee that the dinner won"t start without you.
Once at the , sit with your back straight and keep hands and elbows off the .（端正坐好，手肘不要放在桌子上） Purses, bags, hats and any other personal items should be either checked in (if the option is available) or placed on the back of your own chair.Before anything else, napkins should be placed on your lap (not tucked on your shirt).（把餐巾纸平铺在大腿上，而不是掖在上衣上）
The first bite should be taken by the host. Drinking water is fine, but if wine is offered, you should also wait for the hostess to take the first sip. Toasts are sometimes held before dinners, so the wine glass should remain empty until others start.（保证别人提议敬酒时酒杯内是满的）
2. Utensils(餐具) and Eating
If there are several forks, spoons and knives on the , it means that each dish will require a different one.（每道菜要用不同的套具） Start from the outside and work your way towards the plate with each new dish.（先用最外面的刀叉，依次向内） If a spoon and fork are placed directly over the plate, these are usually for coffee and dessert.（直接放在盘子上的刀叉是为咖啡和甜点准备的）
Butter knives are usually place on the top right corner and come with their own plate. （抹黄油的刀放在单独盘子的右上方）When buttering bread, always break the bread into bite-size pieces and butter every piece before you eat, rather than buttering the whole roll or slice of bread.（抹黄油时要把面包撕成小块儿，在每块上面都涂抹上黄油，然后再吃）
When the meal is done, utensils should be placed completely over the plate, with the knife and fork together. While you"re still eating, they should also be placed on the plate (rather than touching the ) but each on its corresponding site（用晚餐后要把餐具有序地放在盘子上，不要放在桌子上）
3.Drinking
Water glasses are usually placed on the bottom right. （水杯摆在右下侧）If you have two other glasses, they"re usually for red and white wine. Red wine is served in wider, shorter glasses, while white wine (or champagne) is served in thinner and slightly taller glasses.（其它的杯子用于喝葡萄酒，红酒的杯子稍矮低，白酒及香槟的杯子则细长）
If the meal is at a restaurant, don"t order alcohol unless the host does it first. If nobody else is drinking, you don"t want to be the only one with a buzz. Drink slow and allow the alcohol to settle in your stomach before filling the glass again.（主人没有点酒时，不要自己点酒）
4.Dinning manners
Since you"re likely to be having a conversation during the meal, you need to pay attention to two main things: not talking with your mouth full and not waving the silverware around or use it to point towards the other guests. (绝对不能嘴里有东西的时候说话，也不能拿着餐具到处乱指)All food should be cut into bite-size pieces, so you can chew them and swallow quickly enough to keep up with the pace of the conversation. （食物要切得很小，以保证可以很快吃完，从而跟上谈话进度）This applies to everything, even foods like bread and salads. As you"re eating, it"s important to pay attention to your surroundings and use them as a guideline on how to behave.（边吃边注意观察旁边人的举止） Eating too fast or too slow will make you stand out, and a business dinner should be about negotiations and strategies, not about yourself.（不要吃得过慢或过快！）
5.Common mistakes
One of the major blunders(大错) that can happen during a business dinner is having a cell phone ringing in the middle of a conversation. If you"re waiting for a very important call (a family member is in the hospital or something of similar magnitude), having the phone on vibrate and on the pocket against your chest is accep. Otherwise, turn it off.（除非有急事把手机设成震动，否则在晚宴当中要关掉手机）
Being aware of conversation topics is also key to a successful business dinner. Anything that can spark controversy, like politics or religion, is better kept off limits. Personal issues such as illnesses, family problems and even money should also be avoided. If the host or another guest ask a question about topics you"re not comfor talking about, give a simple answer that provides no specific details, and hopefully the other person will understand you"re not comfor talking about it.（对话的内容不要涉及个人隐私、政治、宗教等问题）
