It's All About Your Technique

I've spent my adult life fumbling around with chopsticks every time I go to an Asian restaurant, and have generally considered myself successful so long as I manage to get more food in my mouth than on my lap. 


But, since arriving in Hong Kong I've been trying to refine my technique and have come to learn that I really have been doing it wrong all of this time. To manipulate chopsticks the way the Chinese intended requires far more dexterity and grace than the grab-and-shovel into-my-mouth technique I've been employing all of these years.


Check out the photos below. Notice the position of the hand, with the thumb, ring finger and pinky firmly locking the first chopstick in place while the pointer and middle fingers, aided again by the thumb, skillfully manipulate the second chopstick.

Now some of you are probably saying, no shit. Of course this is how you use chopsticks! But look at the second picture and try to replicate this position the next time you use them. It's not easy!

I can only take solace in the fact that apparently not all Chinese bother mastering this proper form either, and that indeed as long as you manage to get the food into your mouth, you're doing just fine. Phew!