中西方的飲食方式有很大不同，這種差異對民族性格也有影響。在中國，任何壹個宴席，不管是什麽目的，都只會有壹種形式，就是大家團團圍坐，***享壹席。筵席要用圓桌，這就從形式上造成了壹種團結、禮貌、***趣的氣氛。美味佳肴放在壹桌人的中心，它既是壹桌人欣賞、品嘗的對象，又是壹桌人感情交流的媒介物。人們相互敬酒、相互讓菜、勸菜，在美好的事物面前，體現了人們之間相互尊重、禮讓的美德。雖然從衛生的角度看，這種飲食方式有明顯的不足之處，但它符合我們民族“大團圓”的普遍心態，反映了中國古典哲學中“和”這個範疇對後代思想的影響，便於集體的情感交流，因而至今難以改革。
西式飲宴上，食品和酒盡管非常重要，但實際上那是作為陪襯。宴會的核心在於交誼，通過與鄰座客人之間的交談，達到交誼的目的。如果將宴會的交誼性與舞蹈相類比，那麽可以說，中式宴席好比是集體舞，而西式宴會好比是男女的交誼舞。由此可見，中式宴會和西式宴會交誼的目的都很明顯，只不過中式宴會更多地體現在全席的交誼，而西式宴會多體現於相鄰賓客之間的交誼。與中國飲食方式的差異更為明顯的是西方流行的自助餐。此法是：將所有食物壹壹陳列出來，大家各取所需，不必固定在位子上吃，走動自由，這種方式便於個人之間的情感交流，不必將所有的話擺在桌面上，也表現了西方人對個性、對自我的尊重。但各吃各的，互不相擾，缺少了壹些中國人聊歡***樂的情調。
所以，歸根結底還是感性與理性之間的差異。但是，這種差異似乎在隨著科學的發展而變的模糊。越來越多的中國人以不再只註重菜的色、香、味，而更註重它的衛生與營養了。尤其是在經歷了非典以後。還有，人們因為越來越繁忙的工作，覺得中餐做起來太麻煩，不如來個漢堡方便等。這樣壹來在飲食上差異也就不太分明了。
ENGLISH
Center the western diet way has very greatly differently, thiskind of difference is also influential to the national disposition. InChina, any banquet, no matter is any goal, all only can have one kindof form, is everybody sits in a circle all round, shares. The banquetmust use the round table, this formally has created one kind ofunity, politeness, altogether the interest atmosphere. The delicacydelicacies put on table of people's centers, it not only is the objectwhich table of people appreciates, tastes, also is a table of peoplesentiments exchange intermedium. The people mutually propose a toast,mutually offer food to a guest, urge the vegetable, in front of thehappy thing, has manifested the moral excellence which between thepeople mutually respects, gives precedence out of courtesy. Althoughlooked from the hygienic angle, this diet way has the obviousdeficiency, but it conforms to our nationality "the happy ending" theuniversal point of view, had reflected in the Chinese classicalphilosophy "and" this category to the descendant thought influence, isadvantageous for the collective emotion exchange, thus until now withdifficulty reforms.
Western-style banquets, food and liquor although count for much, butin fact that takes the set-off. The banquet core lies in thefriendship, through with the adjacent seat visitor's betweenconversation, achieves the friendship the goal. If and the danceresembles the banquet friendship compared to, then may say, theChinese type banquet is just like is a group dance, but thewestern-style banquet is just like is men's and women's socialdancing. Thus it can be seen, the Chinese type banquet and thewestern-style banquet friendship goal very is all obvious, onlyChinese type banquet more terrains now complete meal friendship, butthe western-style banquet manifests much between the neighboringguest's friendship. Is the western popular buffet is more obviouswhich with the Chinese diet way difference. This law is: Will possessfood 11 to exhibit, everybody 各取所需, will not need to fix onthe seat eats, takes a walk the freedom, this way will be advantageousfor between individual emotion exchange, will not will certainly allspeeches to suspend on the tabletop, also has displayed the westernperson to the individuality, to the self- respect. But respectivelyeats each, mutually did not harass, lacks some Chinese to chat thehappy altogether happy affective tone.
Therefore, in the final analysis or between perceptual and rationaldifference. But, this kind of difference as if in the fuzziness whichchanges along with the science development. More and more many Chineseby no longer only pay great attention to the vegetable the color, thefragrance, the taste, but paid great attention to its health and thenutrition. In has experienced after in particular the non- standard.Also, the people because of the more and more busy work, thought theChinese meal starts too troubles, was inferior to Hamburg facilitatesand so on. Then the difference not too was also distinct in the diet. 論文