When we were children, we often heard adults say, "Eat in the bowl and look at the pot", which is a dejorative phrase, a kind of criticism from the elders to the younger ones. Later, slowly this sentence was derived from many other meanings. From these meanings, we can see the wisdom of our predecessors.
1. Why is there such a sentence "Eating in the bowl and looking at the pot"?
This sentence, many years ago, is estimated to have happened in many families. During the Chinese New Year, or after guests come to the house, the children eat the food in the bowl and look at the food in the pot with their eyes from time to time. This sentence is mostly used by adults to educate children, telling children that such habits are very bad.
In fact, then again, if today's children were placed at that time, it is estimated that today's children would not make the act of eating in the bowl and looking at the pot. It's not because today's children know how to count etiquette, but because today's children basically don't go hungry, or suffer anything. Today's children never worry about not having enough to eat or eating well.
However, for the era many years ago, food and clothing were a difficult thing to solve, let alone eat well. Especially in rural areas, it is very difficult to be able to eat meat at home during the Chinese New Year. So whenever there is something delicious at home, the children are always in turmoil, just hoping to be able to eat more delicious meals.
Second, the meaning of the phrase "eating in the bowl and looking at the pot" is in **?
For children, their joys and sorrows are very simple. Many times, when they are faced with a choice, they think of themselves first, and then their families. However, as a country of etiquette, our behavior is a reflection of the quality of a family. Although people would not hesitate to choose survival between survival and quality, it does not mean that they forgot the importance of etiquette.
As a member of the main family, it is necessary to bring out the best things to entertain the guests. However, as a guest, you can't ignore etiquette and eat all the good food that the host family treats at once. Speaking of which, it is estimated that the older generation of rural people should have heard of "watching vegetables". In that era of scarcity of materials, it was very difficult for most ordinary families to have a bowl of meat during the Chinese New Year. However, during the Chinese New Year, there are many relatives and guests. Just a bowl of meat is not enough to entertain guests.
Out of respect for the guests, it is not possible to have a plate of meat on the table. However, if the only plate of meat in the house is taken out, if it is eaten at once, the guests will not have meat to entertain them. Therefore, in those days, the common people formed a tacit thing with each other, that is, when they went to other people's homes as guests, a bowl of meat on the dinner table must not be able to move chopsticks. This bowl of meat represents the passion of the main family for you, but you can't eat it as a guest. This was the "food viewing" of the year.
If there is no education from the elders, children naturally do not know the exquisiteness. It's not good, as soon as I don't pay attention to the children at home, I eat this bowl of "watching vegetables". So back then, it was very normal for adults to restrain children. So at that time, adults always used this sentence to educate children.
3. What is the meaning of "eating in the bowl and looking at the pot"?
This sentence, basically used until now, is no longer to express children's greed, but to mock a person's greed. To put it simply, a person wants to get more benefits after they have already received them. Such a greedy style will definitely affect the interests of others. Therefore, generally this kind of behavior is spurned.
Summary:
In fact, it seems to be a very simple sentence, but it contains a lot of truth. In terms of the growth of future generations, through this sentence, everyone knows what it means to stop in moderation and accept it when it is good. What do you think?