Learning how to use 箸 (hashi / chopsticks) is the first step to fully enjoying Japanese food.
As 箸 are so versatile, once you get the hang of them, using anything else seems a bit of an effort.
For chopstick novices, these are some things you shouldn’t do if you are planning a trip to the land of the rising sun 🌞
Yose bashi (寄せ箸)
= Dragging a plate towards you using a chopstick.
If you would like to reach for a particular plate, it’s better to put down your chopsticks and use both hands to lift up the plate.
寄せる (よせる yoseru) means ‘to come near’ or ‘to let someone approach’.
Neburi bashi (舐り箸)
= licking chopsticks.
舐る(ねぶる neburu) means ‘to lick’ but it’s an uncommon word. Generally, 舐める (なめる nameru) is more common for ‘to lick’.
Mayoi bashi (迷い箸)
= Pointing your chopsticks from one plate to another wondering which one to eat.
迷う (まよう mayou) means ‘to lose one’s way’ or ‘getting lost’.
Sakasa bashi (逆さ箸)
= Flipping chopsticks to serve from a large plate. Simply ask for another pair of chopsticks to serve.
逆さ (さかさ sakasa) means ‘inverted’ or ‘upside down’.
Sashi bashi (刺し箸)
= Stabbing food with your chopsticks. Also take care not to leave them standing up in your food as this symbolise death.
刺す (さす sasu) means ‘to pierce’ or ‘to stab’.
Sashi bashi (指し箸)
= Using chopsticks to point at someone or something directly. If you tend to venture wildly, put your chopsticks down.
指す (さす sasu) is pronounced in the same way as the previous word 刺す. However, as you can see they are written in different kanji. This one means ‘to point’.
Hashi watashi (箸渡し)
= Passing your food from your chopsticks to others.
At Japanese funerals, bone fragments are passed from chopstick to chopstick so you are not to do this in the context of the dinner table.
渡す (わたす watasu) means ‘to ferry across’ or ‘to carry across’.
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