餐巾虽然仅仅是一块布，但它的使用方法却需要不少技巧。你知道吗，当你离开座位去洗手间或是用餐完毕时应该如何摆放餐巾？直接揉成团的做法对吗？不得不说，餐桌礼仪有时候确实容易令人疑问重重。不用担心，今天，就让我们一起来学习用餐时餐巾的摆放规则，以及注意事项。现在，就让我们开始吧！
Napkins may be mere pieces of cloth, but they can be tricky. Do you know what to do with it when you take a bathroom break or finish your meal? Or do you just make it up as you go along? Let’s be honest, the rules of dining etiquette can be confusing at times. Don’t worry, together we will review all the different ways to place your napkin while having dinner, and the faux-pas to avoid. Shall we start?
下图这种餐巾布置方法对吗？ Does this look correct？
你可能在中小型餐馆或小酒馆见到过这样的餐巾摆放方法。在休闲餐厅或中级餐厅的中，这样摆放是合适的。但你永远不会在一个高级餐厅看到这样的布置方法，当然，在家里如此布置餐巾也并不合适。
You may have seen this arrangement in medium-sized restaurants or bistros. It is considered appropriate for restaurants of a casual or mid-level style. You will never see it in a higher calibre restaurant, and of course you should avoid it at home.
你有否使用过它？ Do you sometimes use this?
法国中产阶级在19世纪发明了套餐巾的小环。在那时候，家庭中的每个成员都有属于自己的一个餐巾环。当午饭和晚饭结束时，餐巾使用完毕后，餐巾就被收进这个小环里。这么做的原因是，那时候中产阶级的家庭使用的是大块的棉质餐巾，并且在这一天之中，从早饭到晚饭都使用这同一块餐巾。这些餐巾通常是一天一换，在一些不那么富裕的家庭中甚至2-3天才更换一次。
The napkin ring was invented in the early 19th century by the French bourgeoisie. Traditionally, each member of a family had one, which was distinct from the other. Once the lunch or dinner was finished, the napkin was wrapped back in the ring. The reason for this was that back then the French bourgeoisie used large cotton napkins, which could be used throughout the whole day, from breakfast to dinner. They were changed only at the end of the day, or every 2 to 3 days for the not-so-wealthy families.
如今，餐巾环被认为是中产阶级的象征，因此它对于小餐馆来说是适用的。
Nowadays napkin rings are considered middle-class, and thus appropriate for bistros.
所以，当我们布置餐桌的时候怎样摆放餐巾呢？以下有两种方法。
So, how should we place napkins when we set the table? There areactually 2 possibilities.
一种是：将餐巾放在餐盘的左边。
Put the napkins on the left of the plate.
另一种是：把餐巾放在餐盘里面。
Put the napkins on the plate.
你既可以把餐巾直接放在盘子上，也可以放在盘子左边。这两种方法无论是在餐厅还是在家中接待客人都可以适用。我的建议是，除非你对自己的折叠技巧十分自信，不然不要轻易尝试复杂的叠法。复杂不一定等同于优雅哦！
You can either place it on the plate, or to the left of it. Both are acceptable and suitable for restaurants or home receptions. Regarding the folding of the napkin, in myopinion you should not attempt something too complicated, unless you are confident you can do it right. Elegance doesn’t necessarily require complexity.
我们应该什么时候展开餐巾？ When should you unfold it?
当我们受邀做客时，女主人坐下后，你就可以坐下了（不可以在女主人之前坐下哦）。此时，你就可以展开餐巾并把它放在大腿上了，不必等到第一道菜上桌才这样做。
Here we are, the hostess has just sat down, so you can do the same (because, as you probably know, you are not supposed to take your seat before the hostess). You can now unfold the napkin and place it on your lap, even before being served your first course.
当你需要离开时，应该如何摆放餐巾呢？ Where should you place it when you need to leave?
这取决于你是否打算返回餐桌（比如你去洗手间之后）。It actually depends on whether you intend to come back (after having been to the bathroom for instance) or not. 如果你要返回餐桌的话，你应该把餐巾放在座位上，或者椅子的扶手上，但是不应该放在椅背上，因为那样会把餐巾显得太过于明显而不够优雅。将餐巾放在座位上或椅子扶手上，这向服务员表明你仍然要回到位子上，这样他们就不会收走你的餐具了。在这之前，我建议你检查一下你的餐巾上有没有食物残留，以免在椅子上留下痕迹。
If you will return, you should rest your napkin on the chair, on the seat, or on the arm, but never the back, which would be too visible and inelegant. This would indicate to the waiters that you are still present at the table, and that they should not remove your cutlery. At this point I advise you to check that there are no food stains on your napkin that could leave a mark on the chair.
当你用餐完毕时，可以把餐巾放在桌子上。这就向服务员表示你已经用完餐了，可以收走你的盘子和餐具了。
If you are done with your dinner, then you need to place the napkin on the table. This tells the waiter that you are finished with your meal, and ready for your plate and cutlery to be cleared.
不过，应该放在哪里，如何摆放呢？
But where and how should you place the napkin on the table?
放在盘子的右边是法式做法，放在左边是英式做法。一个简单的记忆方法就是：法国人靠右行驶，英国靠左行驶，餐巾的摆放位置和驾驶员的位置是一样的。
On the right of the plate is the French style. On the left is the British style. An easy way to remember it is that the French drive on the right-hand side of the road, and the British on the left, so that’s where they place their napkin at the end of their meal.
法国人在用餐完毕时把餐巾放在盘子的右边。
French put the napkin on the right of the plate when they leave.
英国人在用餐完毕时把餐巾放在盘子的左边。
British put the napkin on the left of the plate when they leave.
最后，用餐完毕时应该如何折叠餐巾呢？显然，把它叠回原来那样是肯定不对的。一旦餐巾被使用过以后，就应该只简单的叠一下，这样它就不会被当作新餐巾误拿了。所以，把它叠成可以明显看出已被使用过的样子即可。
And finally, how should you fold it? Here the faux-pas would be to fold it very precisely and clearly in the same way it was folded when the table was set. Once used, you should fold it gently, so that it doesn’t seem disarranged, but not too well. It must be obvious that it has been already used.
希望读完这篇文章后，当你下一次去高级餐厅时可以自信而肯定地使用餐巾！如果您有任何疑问，欢迎在文末留言，我非常乐意为您解答！
I hope next time you go to a high-end restaurant you won’t hesitate about what to do with your napkin!Any questions? If yes, please do not hesitate to post your comments, I would be very happy to answer!
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