Sujeo
Encyclopedia
Sujeo is the Korean word for the set of eating utensils commonly used to eat Korean food. The word is a contraction of the word sutgarak and jeotgarak . The sujeo set includes a pair of oval-shaped metal chopsticks
, and a long handled shallow spoon
of the same materials. One may use both at the same time, but this is a recent way to speed eating. It is not considered good etiquette to hold the spoon and the chopstick together in one hand especially while eating with elders. More often food is eaten with chopsticks alone. Upon occasion the spoon apart from chopsticks is referred to as sujeo.
Chopsticks may be put down on a table, but never put into food standing up, particularly rice, as this is considered to bring bad luck. The spoon may be laid down on the rice bowl, or soup bowl, if it has not been used. As food is eaten quickly, and portions are small, little time is spent in putting eating utensils down.
Cases for sujeo in paper or Korean fabrics were often embroidered with symbols of longevity and given as gifts, particularly at weddings. They are now sold as souvenirs.
Chopsticks
Chopsticks are small, often tapered, sticks used in pairs of equal length as the traditional eating utensils of China and its diaspora, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Northern provinces of Laos, Thailand and Burma. Generally believed to have originated in ancient China, they can also be found in some...
, and a long handled shallow spoon
Spoon
A spoon is a utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl, oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery , especially as part of a place setting, it is used primarily for serving. Spoons are also used in food preparation to measure, mix, stir and toss ingredients...
of the same materials. One may use both at the same time, but this is a recent way to speed eating. It is not considered good etiquette to hold the spoon and the chopstick together in one hand especially while eating with elders. More often food is eaten with chopsticks alone. Upon occasion the spoon apart from chopsticks is referred to as sujeo.
Chopsticks may be put down on a table, but never put into food standing up, particularly rice, as this is considered to bring bad luck. The spoon may be laid down on the rice bowl, or soup bowl, if it has not been used. As food is eaten quickly, and portions are small, little time is spent in putting eating utensils down.
Cases for sujeo in paper or Korean fabrics were often embroidered with symbols of longevity and given as gifts, particularly at weddings. They are now sold as souvenirs.