Burping at the table
Informal Can sound rude
What it really means
Burping audibly during a meal is considered rude in Britain, whatever the company. If it happens, a quick "pardon me" or "excuse me" fixes it — the apology matters more than the burp. The same goes for other body noises: acknowledge briefly, don't laugh it off in formal company, and move on.
Chinese explanation
在英国，用餐时出声打嗝被认为不礼貌，无论和谁一起。真的发生了，马上说声"pardon me"或"excuse me"就能化解——道歉比打嗝本身更重要。其他身体声音同理：简短表示歉意，正式场合别一笑而过，然后继续正常吃饭。
Example conversation
A: (burps) Oh — pardon me!
B: (carries on as if nothing happened)
A：（打嗝）哦——失礼了！
B：（若无其事地继续吃饭）
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake