淺論餐巾紙 On Napkins
There are two kinds of napkins; one is made of cloth, the other of
paper. On the plane, for Business or First Classes passengers, they use cloth
napkins as a courtesy; for Economy class they use paper napkins, instead. It goes
without saying people using cloth napkins are those with superior class.
餐巾有兩種，一種是布做的，另一種是紙質的。在飛機上對商務艙與頭等艙的旅客，被免費供應布質的餐巾；有經濟艙的旅客，他們卻用紙質的餐巾。勿庸置言，使用布做的餐巾是較高級旅客。
Ever since some time ago, people have been using paper napkins instead
of handkerchiefs in formal occasions or ordinary places. Paper napkins are
disposable and more sanitary, while handkerchiefs, though reusable, it is
easier to gather germs or bacteria. It is not for hygienic consideration. Except
in few countries like India ,
China
一段時間以來，在正式塲合或普通地方，人們一直使用紙餐巾來取代手帕。紙餐巾是用一次就丟掉，所以更衛生。而手帕雖然可以重復使用，但易積聚細菌。未考量到衛生。除了少數一些國家像印度、中國或亞洲、非洲國家外，人們還是較喜歡餐巾紙。
Most napkins are frequently provided as a complimentary in
restaurants, food stands or places related to eating for to-go or to-stay. In restaurants or hotels of higher classes,
cloth napkins are often used, but not in restaurants mediocre or with lower
classes.
大都份的餐巾常常是免費供應，在餐館、食物攤、或與外賣、堂食有關等地方。在較高級的飯店或餐廳，還是使用布質的餐巾，但在次等或較低級的餐廳就不會。
People use paper napkins more often than not at fast food stores like
McDonalds’’, KFC, or Taco Bells, etc. Besides these, when visiting a dentist’s
office for dental care, patients are often given a small piece of tissue paper
for wiping in Taiwan America
紙餐巾常常被使用在速食餐室中如，麥當勞、炸鷄店或搭克貝爾(墨西哥式速食) 等等。此外，在台灣看牙醫時，病人常被給一張衛生紙擦拭。用這一小張衛生紙，在治療中患者不得不用它擦拭嘴巴8至10次。但在美國的牙醫診所，患者可以隨時取用，不限張數。
Whatever kind of paper napkins, I found the difference between those
provided in the Orient and the Western countries. In the Western countries,
napkins (heavier) are always put on each dining table or the places easily
accessible. They are usually tightly
packed in an open stainless boxes. Customers can feel free to take as many as
they want. They are made of thicker and
recycled paper. While in Taiwan America Taiwan
不論何種紙餐巾，我發覺在東西方國家中供應方式的不同。在西方國家，紙餐巾經常放在每一張餐桌上面，或可以方便拿到的地方。通常它們被密集地，積壓在一個開放式不銹鋼的盒子內，顧客可以隨意取用。它們是用厚一點的回收紙做成。可是在台灣，在一些餐館內，它們一點也不易方便取得，它們放在收銀櫃台邊，當你結帳時可以取用一些，或放在不易拿到的牆壁上。有時餐後還得向侍者或老板要，因為你看不到放在那裡，放置地點也因餐館而異。這些紙餐巾較輕，品質差，抽用時僅能每次抽一張。不像在美國，可以同時抽取幾張。在台灣如果你站在置於牆上餐巾紙盒前，不停地抽取，其他顧客會奇怪地瞪你。
There is one eating habit in Taiwan
which is much different from that in America America Taiwan
台灣的飲食習慣與美國大不相同。美國人吃東西，有需要就盡量用餐巾紙，為使嘴巴乾淨，咬一口就擦一次。尤其在吃漢堡時，若不經常擦拭，嘴巴就不會乾淨。在台灣，人們似乎不介意一邊吃一邊擦嘴。直到用餐完畢，你才不得不走過許多餐桌，通過走道到店的後頭，就是為了去拿幾張餐巾紙來擦。換言之，你還得忍受其他顧客，用沒有表情和吃驚的眼神來看你。
It seems to me that most people in Taiwan are generous with some
free gifts; they are generous to give away something especially to total strangers; they are even regarded as
the # l donator in contributions to the refugees when they suffer from
devastation from Tsunami rage, but they are very careful or stingy with their
use of tissue paper for cleaning their mouths or hands. One of the reasons I
figure out may be that the Taiwanese can not be too poor to provide to people
as many napkins as they need. Rather, the logical explanation may be that they
are just and always emphasizing the importance of energy-saving or recycling. Well,
that’s the way things are. Each person
may be faced with a culture shock when traveling in an exotic country.
對我而言，大部分台灣人慷慨送禮給別人，他們不吝施捨他人，他們甚至被認為是，日本海嘯受難者最慷慨的捐献者，可是他們卻很吝嗇使用衛生紙來擦嘴和手。我揣測出其中一個理由可能是，台灣人不至於窮到無法提供盡量餐巾紙。相反地，合理的解釋也許是，他們不停且一再地强調節約能源與資源回收的重要。事情就是如此。在外國旅行時，每人也許都會遇到某種文化的衝擊吧。
Pumpkin Head
(1)
回覆刪除It is very interesting reading the analysis between different cultures, especially the one I have experienced myself. I can relate to the Taiwanese napkin culture and can not agree with you more. The part that describes the customers have to walk through the aisle with stains on their faces to get the tissue is vivid and humorous. I also find it very disturbing while in the local restaurant and I also believe it does not mean the Taiwanese are stingy, but a really unique and interesting culture.
Prof. Tseng, Ching-Jung, Ph.D.
台灣高雄榮總 醫學教授-曾清俊博士
12/23/2012
Dear Teacher,
回覆刪除The article was received. Your opinions and conceptions about napkins are very penetrating and incisive. To me, civilization and economic situation affect the manners of people treating napkins. Generally, people in western countries are more civilized and wealthy. They behave themselves elegantly. In contrast, eastern people are less civilized and poorer, especially in old days. Most of Chinese struggled for living. Nowadays although the economic situation improves, the bad habits such as taking food or things more than necessary, and being keen on gaining petty advantages, are remained. When McDonalds or KFC launched, paper napkins were put on the places easily accessible initially. Now the restaurants put napkins on where are not so easily accessible. One reason is that some people here like to take more napkins than they need. Another reason is considering source- and energy-saving for our planet.
KC Hsu
許貫中 博士
台灣師範大學 化學系教授
12/23/2012