Starting to eat before everyone is served
Neutral Polite
What it really means
At a shared meal it's polite to wait until everyone has their food before you start, and often until the host says "please, start" or "tuck in". At a big table the host may tell you to begin so your food doesn't go cold — then it's fine to start.
Chinese explanation
一起用餐时，礼貌的做法是等所有人都上了菜再动筷，通常还要等主人说一句"请吃"或"开动吧"。人多的大桌上，主人可能会让你先吃以免饭菜凉了——那样就可以开始。
Example conversation
A: Can I start, or should I wait?
B: Wait just a moment until everyone's served — then dig in.
A：我可以先吃吗，还是要等一等？
B：稍等一下，等大家都上了菜——然后就开动。
What you could say back
Related phrases
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· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake