Chinese word

公筷

Pronunciation

Pinyingōng kuài

Meaning

  • nounserving chopsticks

Example

我们家现在都用公筷，比较卫生。wǒ men jiā xiàn zài dōu yòng gōng kuài bǐ jiào wèi shēng

Everyone in our family now uses serving chopsticks, which is more hygienic.

Illustration for 公筷 (serving chopsticks)

More examples

聚会时请用公筷夹菜，大家更安心。jù huì shí qǐng yòng gōng kuài jiā cài dà jiā gèng ān xīn

At gatherings, please use serving chopsticks to pick up food so everyone feels more at ease.

Core concept

A hygienic boundary beside a shared dish: one pair moves food outward while personal chopsticks remain with each diner.

Common phrases

  • 用公筷夹菜yòng gōng kuài jiā cài

    use serving chopsticks to pick up food

  • 带公筷dài gōng kuài

    bring serving chopsticks

  • 购买公筷gòu mǎi gōng kuài

    buy serving chopsticks

Similar words

分餐筷fēn cān kuài: Chopsticks used when separating food from a shared dish into individual servings.
公用筷gōng yòng kuài: Chopsticks available for shared use when diners take food from common dishes.
公勺gōng sháo: A spoon for taking food from a shared dish and placing it on an individual plate.

Definition in Chinese

为在多人共同用餐时避免交叉使用个人筷子而设置的、仅用于夹公用菜肴并分到个人盘中的筷子，侧重公共卫生功能。wèi zài duō rén gòng tóng yòng cān shí bì miǎn jiāo chā shǐ yòng gè rén kuài zi ér shè zhì de jǐn yòng yú jiā gōng yòng cài yáo bìng fēn dào gè rén pán zhōng de kuài zi cè zhòng gōng gòng wèi shēng gōng néng

Word origin

公 (gōng, "public") + 筷 (kuài, "chopsticks") combines a word for public use with the word for chopsticks, directly linking the name to a communal dining arrangement.

Usage tips

  • At a family-style meal, one pair may be placed beside each common dish, while the number of pairs is understood from the setting or stated with a measure word.

Other meanings

  • shared chopsticksnoun

Related words

  • 公筷制gōng kuài zhìserving chopstick systemnoun

Word lists with this word