The Secret History of Chinese Chopsticks

[@learnchinesenow]

Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle here: magicmind.com/lcnjan

[@larryhasgonefishing1374]

Thank you Jared for the history of chopsticks, I learned something new today. Also glad that no one claims chopsticks is stolen technology from the west.

[@huiyu6739]

While the Chinese were using knives and forks, the ancestors of Europeans were still in caves

[@achangyw]

wow hahaha

[@fatsen-qy4lj]

Uncountable Stolen Artifacts were stolen from China and Are Showcasing in Europe and The West !

[@SlimJim3082]

Everything that the western world was built on was taken from the Chinese. The magnetic compass, paper for currency, gun powder etc

[@jemfalor]

​@@huiyu6739 now still barbaric, with forks and knives on dining

[@kwokyingcheng699]

箸 changed to 筷 because the former has the same sound as 住 (meaning stop). Boat people around the Yangtse River thought it unlucky because they didn't want their boat to "stop", thus changed it to sound like "quick".

[@Taotaoba]

第一次听说，不过很有意思。

[@kwokyingcheng699]

​@@Taotaoba 這源於"菽園雜記"：民間俗諱，各處有之，而吳中為甚。如舟行諱「住」，...以「箸」為「快兒」...。此皆俚俗可笑處，今士大夫亦有犯俗稱「快兒」者。

[@youness9302]

您不仅幽默，视频质量也非常高！筷子的用法其实也类似刀叉，叉子不动，刀子切割。what he said and how to use chopstick is true and he is very smart! thumb up from china!

[@learnchinesenow]

😊🙏

[@DavidChow-n4x]

“Happy Chinese New Year!”🐍 🥳🎉🥂🍾💥🧨🧧

[@learnchinesenow]

Happy New Year!!! 🎊🎊🎊

[@discursion]

There are so many more aspects you could have brought up, such as how the holding distance of the chopsticks is perceived as indicative of one's mastery - holding them further away from the pinch is seen as more elegant and skillful. There's also some superstition regarding how far the person you will marry is related to that holding position. Another very important aspect you should have discussed is how putting the chopstick directly into your mouth while eating is frowned upon (for obvious hygienic reasons). Instead, you're only supposed to bring the food to your mouth and take it from there while minimizing the amount of saliva that gets into contact with the chopsticks. Most foreigner are completely oblivious to this and they end up grossing everyone out. Obviously, this isn't as much the case for slippery foods like noodles or if you're eating on your own (which is the case for noodles most of the time). The upright chopstick issue related to mourning practices is usually specific to putting them into rice vertically, but I guess it could be the case for other food. There are other inauspicious things you could be doing; in Southern China, crossing chopsticks can be a symbol of misfortune, for instance, or making a bridge between two items (bowl and plate, for instance) is seen as sloppy and may bring bad luck. You should also hold both chopsticks at equal distance (not one short and one long). You're not supposed to move items that don't require chopsticks, like... em... a bottle (I know that was a joke, but also a missed opportunity to bring this up). Dropping your chopsticks accidentally is also inauspicious, though some may joke 客人要来. This might sound a bit silly, but passing food from chopstick to chopstick is also not acceptable. But I guess it's also silly with other utensils. Most people in the West also do this: they don't lift their bowl while eating and end up bowing their head low to eat with chopsticks, which just looks bad. We seem to have a tradition of not touching the plate or bowl here. Also, you shouldn't drop your chopsticks on the table, but leave them on top of your rice bowl (or plate if lack thereof). There's so much to cover. In formal settings, just like with money, if you're handed chopsticks, it's respectful to greet them with both hands. Or that nowadays, serving chopsticks are mostly used for hot pots and are very rarely seen otherwise.

[@learnchinesenow]

Sounds like I need to make a follow up video 👍

[@rockys7726]

My grandmother used to hold her chopsticks at the very tip top. We used to always marvel at how she did it. She would say "so I can reach farther to get the best pieces of food". lol

[@learnchinesenow]

😂👍

[@Anonymous------]

Now I know where the phrase "I wouldn't touch that with a 10-foot pole" comes from. 😂

[@xueueux]

I thought it's common and everyone can hold it like that?

[@rockys7726]

@@xueueux of course it's possible for everyone but she just felt comfortable doing it and just did it as a young kid.

[@ExoticPonyMods]

What a great perspective, your work is very much appreciated.

[@janmcleod6727]

HOW NICE TO HEAR a laowai speaking such perfect putonghua!

[@learnchinesenow]

🙏

[@achangyw]

Impressed...very

[@spectator4786]

You mean kwai Lo speaking gokyu.

[@highwaysstar]

I was not expecting to hear the words Teochew or Hokkien! My parents are from each of these cultures and even though they are both Chinese, it caused quite a few problems early in their marriage. Thank you for the history lesson!

[@KalecgosMagic]

Correction: It is accepted in Chinese culture to use the cross method to hold chopsticks as well. I can only use the cross method & was ridiculed for it, but I found out from a Chinese chopsticks etiquette master that the cross method is legitimate too

[@heizi-lyh]

You taught me a lot with this video. Thx!

[@learnchinesenow]

😊👍

[@BenjaminElijah-yq2wx]

I am impressed with your pronunciation of mandarin.. Unlike many othee channels, and I love your content.. You've got one more subscriber here.

[@learnchinesenow]

😊🙏

[@IdaTube]

The Cantonese pinyin for "速" is indeed cuk1, but its initial consonant c is pronounced as "ch" instead of "k".

[@cortlincabbiness7726]

Great video. It's fun to learn this info while studying Chinese. Makes the experience so much more fulfilling. I first started following you from your other videos where you and the other guy judge celebrities and influencers' Chinese levels. Great content!

[@learnchinesenow]

👍

[@maxkim7937]

In korea, we also have different types of chopsticks. Long wooden ones for cooking, short wooden ones usually designed like the japanese chopsticks, and metal flat ones which are common in restaurants and households. I hate the metal flat ones...

[@johnnyw6467]

Yah hard to grip sometime with metal but traditionally it was used in China back then to test for poison but in SK I not too sure

[@sheilawang7563]

I just found this program, love it. It’s funny and knowledgeable. Thank you.👍

[@learnchinesenow]

😊🙏

[@weiyeongtan2695]

Chinese chopsticks are round at the picking end, denoting the earth and square at the top, denoting heaven. Korean one are usually round at both end and made of hollowed metal, while Japanese one are similar, but tapper down narrower at the bottom and made with solid wood vanished in lacquer. Thai has various variety.

[@davidsentanu7836]

Also, Koreans don't use chopsticks for the rice. So you have juggle chopsticks and a spoon both only using the right hand.

[@dragonz369]

my granduncle owned a pair of chopsticks made of silver. He used them to detect poison in food. In ancient times, the royals and the nobles also used silver chopsticks for detecting poison in food.

[@jimmyli5475]

And before the use of lazy Susan, there are rules on which plates and which parts of those plates you can dig in. A simple rule is you are not supposed to cross path with others, and not passing over a plate.

[@taiglish]

Picking up magic mind with chopsticks was magical 😂😂

[@learnchinesenow]

🤣🤣🤣

[@abanjuanito529]

Gosh, well explained precisely. also involved culture and history ...

[@weiyeongtan2695]

The supreme test on the proper use of chopstick is to pick up a hard boiled chicken egg from the pot while it is still hot and wet. The other is to pick up a braised peanut without breaking it. These demonstrate how you are able to use appropriate force to pick them up.

[@rockys7726]

Yeah the egg is a good one but try to pick up a roasted peanut.....

[@janmcleod6727]

Try a quail egg in soup or sauce -- or even more challenging, a champignon mushroom half, flat side down on the plate...

[@k.c1126]

Never tried the egg, but the peanut thing is like automatic if you eat a dish containing them...

[@Makaron_Nesos]

I always thought a small cube of soft tofu would be the ultimate test.

[@merrick6484]

I use Chopsticks to pick up my wife‘s hair which accidently dropped into the dish.

[@ErdingerLi]

First time watching your video. Your Chinese pronunciation is extremely on point!! Amazing!!

[@learnchinesenow]

😊🙏

[@kellyt8836]

This is the video I didn’t know I needed

[@learnchinesenow]

😁🙏

[@valhoundmom]

Learned to use a fork when I was 2. Lived in China. Almost never use a fork anymore. They are really an awesome eating tool.

[@Aleph-alpha]

11:17 Nothing about “fast”. The “fast” part indicates the pronunciation and that is it. This is one way to construct a character: two parts, one for the pronunciation and the other for the meaning.

[@ericotachizawa2451]

You could make a video about terms used in traditional chinese medicine. Especially those used in traditional chinese dietetics.

[@deepseer]

A little side note: apart from the beggars on the street, where else can you see people banging on their bowls with chopsticks? Many years ago, in university canteens, when the staff were slow and the queues were long, some students would do this as a form of protest. This action has become rare as students have something else to do while waiting: they have smartphones.

[@ralfstofer8609]

This video was realy hilarious and funny. A masterpiece of entertainment.

[@learnchinesenow]

😁🙏

[@fansizhe9997]

Thank you so much Jared, love your videos!!!👍👏🏻👏🏻🙏🙏🙏😍😍😍🤩 keep them coming!!!👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Chia yauw!!!💪💪💪💪

[@learnchinesenow]

😁🙏

[@discursion]

From my experience in China, a lot of people do not use the ring finger when handling chopsticks, which I find remarkable.

[@Cynthia-kv8zv]

It’s a “wrong” way to use chopsticks but I have been using chopsticks like that for the whole life

[@Averagebum21]

I do this, using them in scissor-like motion. Edit: My method is different, criss-crossing the chopsticks.

[@youness9302]

how he use chopstick is right compare to that how to grasp the Chinese brush and The philosophy behind them are the same.

[@youness9302]

@@Averagebum21 This usage method does not conform to the principles of yin and yang.When moving, there must be one side that is stationary or compliant and cooperative.

[@Averagebum21]

@@youness9302 the brush is a single stick. The bottom chopstick must be supported for the top to move. Yes, the bottom stick can be supported by the middle finger without using the ring finger. My method criss-crosses the chopsticks rather than move the top over the bottom stick.

[@VictorThang-b5p]

This man is funny and serious in logical thinking ❤

[@learnchinesenow]

😎👍

[@Kentalot]

Cantonese for 速 is not cuck, but chook (rhyming with english word "look" and thus sounding more like Chop). In cantonese pinyin, the c sound is similar to Ch in english, kinda like pinyin without the curled tongue stuff.

[@youness9302]

促tsiok =>cantonese tsuk(cuk)

[@goheckkheng]

The Teochew call chopsticks ‘der’ not ‘du’.

[@learnchinesenow]

🙏

[@Nagha1000]

Wow you are TCM doctor. Cool

[@inetkid]

Stainless steel only arrived a century ago and before that silver is the main dinnerware metal. Bamboo is much cheaper and practical then.

[@Anonymous------]

Ivory chopsticks were the treasured in China. Silver chopsticks were used to test food for poison because silver changes color in reaction to some poisons.

[@IIllIIllIIllIIll]

Thou shalt not disrespect "thy" ancestors.

[@jackchen801]

My personal guess is the origin started as some sort of Tongs like utensils in 1 piece that evolve to become 2 separate parts...

[@wanlingtain5262]

😀😀😀😀 thank you so much, Jared 😀😀😀😀

[@learnchinesenow]

👍

[@Cynthia-kv8zv]

I didn’t know the history of chopsticks until now and I’m a Chinese

[@Arugula100]

Excellent Chinese promunciation

[@kepliu]

Chopsticks were vertically standing in a bowl of rice in restaurants when rice being served to the table

[@kepliu]

Chopsticks were not available on the table before your food was served. That was in 1960s

[@geoffwai]

Before 元朝(Yuan Dynasty) when Chinese people eat together they divided the food and ate with each own sets of plates and bowls. You can still see this practice in today's Japanese dining etiquette. After Yuan Dynasty Han Chinese were influenced by the Mongols who liked to gathered around in circles to eat from the same hotpots and barbecues.

[@Doping1234]

Yeah eating chips with chopsticks is awesome, blew my mind when I first saw an asian do that.

[@owl6218]

the why is simple. bamboo is everywhere. in a cold climate, you cannot eat with your fingers, and wash them later with icy cold water...

[@ericotachizawa2451]

You could make a video about the moodjong, the wooden dummy of kung fu.

[@learnchinesenow]

Good idea 👍

[@bangthingneng9433]

Why chopsticks becomes most important tool in chinese society starting from ancient time. Though forks , spoon were founded 2000 year ago in China but chopsticks remained favourable tool. 1stly it was not difficult to invent them. Any liquids, spoon shape will helps. Any tearing of meats , fork will helps similar to the spear used in war by the chinese soldiers that tearing the flesh ( 3 blades spear ). Both were rather easy to fathom & visualise & therefore created. But why chopsticks stood up of all. It was flexible & easy & faster for eating. Speed is of essence when come to chinese society. This also have to do with watery rice. Besides, tearing of meats, chinese compensated with mouth. If mouth could work efficiently with chopsticks why must use forks. Mouth saperate meat from bone is even efficient. Less tool & save times. Chopsticks works well with watery rice. Furthermore, having the meats tearing & separated in the mouth with the help of chopsticks would increase the taste & enjoy to the fullest as the bones are with the gravy or source or deep bony tastes. Even today, any dishes with bone are not discounted. For many , bone give extra taste if put into the mouth. In another words, if chopsticks & mouth could debone then it rendered forks redundant. Coz' in chinese cuisine, meat are normally rather cook to soften. Now i could recall something about it name in Chinese. In Chinese chopsticks is call kuai zhe. The work kuai in chinese means " fast ". So probably becos of speed . I hope i am correct with my views but not necessarily true . Anyway, it could also be true. For better world

[@jimmyli5475]

Food and dishes are SHARED. So, foods are cut in small pieces, everyone uses chopsticks, it is less likely for one to grap a large portion at once, others have a chance to try and taste all dishes. Imagine a whole chicken is roasted and served, or a big serving spoon that could hold all the food in one plate.

[@zhangsven8758]

新年快乐❤

[@itgirl_nyc]

速 in Cantonese is chock (as in I am chocking you), not cuk.

[@learnchinesenow]

Is that related to chok樣？ thats one of the only slang words I know

[@Laggie74]

@@learnchinesenow 😂 not the same. Actually, Cantonese still use 速速磅，唔好兩頭望 to tell someone to pay up immediately.

[@nonono-jv8eu]

I use chop sticks to eat chips😂

[@rockys7726]

The best thing for salad is chopsticks. I never use a fork.

[@learnchinesenow]

👍

[@learnchinesenow]

👍

[@tanngoh6044]

I use chopsticks to eat spaghetti and roti canai 😂

[@anteater2536]

Lol. Me too. No need to wash hands afterwards.

[@xg7605]

The use of “子” is pretty much a northern region dialects helping word. In the south, you don't really hear it.

[@fatsen-qy4lj]

The prescription dated back thousands of years was stolen from China and created and claimed he made the formula ! It's called Magic prescription with special ingredients .

[@ImNotMentaL]

You read the Cantonese 速(cuk1) wrongly, don't read "cook", read "choke"

[@gumonmyshu]

Forks, they are so so so...old fashion.

[@learnchinesenow]

🤣

[@buitrung80]

Western-style eating used in Japan in Meiji era

[@takchan4832]

well done. If you really wonder what inspired ancient Chinese to use chopsticks, it's simply biomimicry. hints: crane, egret, wood stork, heron etc.

[@learnchinesenow]

👍

[@owl6218]

funny, how millet is always made into bread, in india...actually porridge is a thing too, but bread is the more acceptable way to consume millet...rice in the far east is sticky, can be scooped with the sticks...

[@johnng3939]

I used chopstick to eat KFC. Long time ago, KFC served their chicken on plate with metal fork & knife. Now chicken is served on paper tray with plastic spoon & fork. These plastic utensils easily break. Their slogan is "finger licking good" but I prefer not to use my hand, therefore I used disposable chopstick.

[@learnchinesenow]

👍👍👍

[@alizaisfandiari7289]

Now it makes sense.. Before I thought chopstick was from chop = cut. So its a stick for cutting not for picking 😅

[@AsaSur-s8i]

当你说你有中医药研究生学位的时候我太觉得厉害了，我自己没有读完本科

[@learnchinesenow]

🙏

[@thomasho9637]

He can use chopsticks very well. Surely he wont miss any tasty food on the table.😅

[@learnchinesenow]

🤣🤣🤣

[@theresaleung823]

Chee-to's or popcorn!

[@learnchinesenow]

Both 👍

[@buitrung80]

Japanese people when eating they eat 2 style one is chopstick used to eat Sushi or ramen and Western-style eating such as fork and knife and spoon only Western style food etc

[@buitrung80]

Westerner used Chopsticks first time is very funny

[@buitrung80]

East Asian countries such as Japan and Korea used Chopstick like China

[@tanizaki]

Are you sure about that? I think you need to check your facts.

[@tr1bes]

​@@tanizakiyes, they do use chopsticks. You need to check your fact.

[@tanizaki]

@@tr1bes I’ve been to a lot of Japanese restaurants, never seen chopsticks. Ditto for kdramas.

[@tr1bes]

@tanizaki kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIa4lGCopZyiacksi=IUDYveI4ixDJ166f

[@tr1bes]

@tanizaki kzbin.infoaU2yoCoPV54?si=fhL6cHnhZRPk3wQk

[@buitrung80]

Japanese only used Chopsticks when eat Sushi or ramen another Japanese foods

[@JKShorts888]

👍✌️❤️😘

[@xemdutup]

Viet people, of course; linguisctics does not have the law for human speech sound yet.

[@buitrung80]

Using Chopsticks popular used in East Asian countries

[@tomsunuwar6940]

Anicent great china ❤ever great❤

[@Bruh-cg2fk]

I thought the Byzantines invented forks 🍴🤔

[@brendabrooks8939]

😆🤣🙏

[@skullsleeson]

Gaoyou longqiuzhuang site BONE CHOPSTICKS (7000-5500 YEARS OLD) !

[@loneranger114]

贊贊贊👍👍👍😊😊

[@buitrung80]

Vietnam also

[@Mark-Seven]

The background music was so annoying I had to exit.

[@hcchong2268]

筷子是韓國的。石器時代韓國就用了。

[@henrychen2637]

啊对对对对！棒子的意思就是拿着一根大号筷子的韩国人😂。我是查了无数典籍才发现的。