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Food Culture

Japanese Chopstick Faux Pas

Term Reading Description Notes
あげ箸 Agebashi Raising chopsticks above the height of one’s mouth
洗い箸 Araibashi Cleaning chopsticks in soup or beverages
合わせ箸 Awasebashi Passing food from one pair of chopsticks to another Serious taboo (funeral custom)
受け箸 Ukebashi Holding out bowl for more while still holding chopsticks
移り箸 Utsuribashi Repeatedly eating from the same side dish instead of alternating
うら箸 Urabashi Picking up food and putting it back without eating
拝み箸 Ogamibashi Holding chopsticks while expressing thanks/prayer Considered rude
押し込み箸 Oshikomibashi Pushing food deep into one’s mouth with chopsticks
落とし箸 Otoshibashi Dropping chopsticks while eating
返し箸 Kaeshibashi Reversing chopsticks to serve food
かき箸 Kakibashi Pushing food into mouth or using chopsticks to scratch body
かみ箸 Kamibashi Biting chopsticks
くわえ箸 Kuwaebashi Holding chopsticks in one’s mouth
こじ箸 Kojibashi Digging into food from the bottom of a dish
こすり箸 Kosuribashi Rubbing disposable chopsticks together
探り箸 Saguribashi Stirring food to search for something
刺し箸 Sashibashi Stabbing food with chopsticks
指し箸 Sashibashi Pointing at people or things with chopsticks
じか箸 Jikabashi Using personal chopsticks to take from shared dishes
透かし箸 Sukashibashi Eating fish by poking between bones instead of removing them
せせり箸 Seseribashi Repeatedly poking food
そろえ箸 Soroebashi Tapping chopsticks to align them
たたき箸 Tatakibashi Making noise by tapping chopsticks
立て箸 Tatebashi Sticking chopsticks upright in rice Serious taboo (funeral offering)
違い箸 Chigaibashi Using mismatched chopsticks
ちぎり箸 Chigiribashi Using chopsticks like knife and fork to cut food
調伏箸 Chōbukubashi Placing chopsticks with tips pointing right
涙箸 Namidabashi Letting liquid drip from chopsticks
握り箸 Nigiribashi Gripping chopsticks in a fist
ねぶり箸 Neburibashi Licking chopsticks
橋箸 Hashibashi Placing chopsticks across a bowl like a bridge Indicates finished (improper)
はね箸 Hanebashi Pushing aside unwanted food
振り上げ箸 Furiagebashi Raising chopstick tips above hand level
振り箸 Furibashi Shaking food/liquid off chopsticks
惑い箸 Madoibashi Hovering chopsticks indecisively over food
回し箸 Mawashibashi Stirring soup with chopsticks
もぎくわえ Mogikuwae Holding chopsticks sideways in mouth
もぎ箸 Mogibashi Eating rice stuck to chopsticks
持ち箸 Mochibashi Holding dish and chopsticks in one hand
楊枝箸 Yōjibashi Using chopsticks like a toothpick
横箸 Yokobashi Using chopsticks like a spoon
寄せ箸 Yosebashi Pulling dishes closer using chopsticks