Abstract:Diet is required by us for survival and human development. However, because of the different regional characteristics between Chinese and Western cultural tradition, it leads to different concepts of dietary cultures, objects, and methods. Studying these differences, we are exposed to a better understanding between Chinese and Western dietary cultures.
Western food culture is a kind of rational food culture. But Chinese dietary culture is an emotional dietary culture. Because of different geographical and cultural reasons, Western diet tends to highlight the concepts of personal characteristics, and advocate individuality. On the contrary, Chinese food culture is an emotional food culture. Chinese diet tends to stress “Yin and Yang” and some profound philosophy, thus attaches the diet to rich cultural meaning.
Through the analysis of dietary differences between Chinese and Western food culture, we get to know the cultural traditions of both China and the West. It let us set up an invincible position in the competition. At the same time it can improve and innovate for the Chinese culture.
Key words：Dietary culture; geographical features; cultural traditions; differences
中文摘要:饮食是人类生活、生存与发展的必需，可是由于中西方地域特征和文化传统的差异，导致了中西方饮食文化在观念、对象、方式与性质方面产生了差异，研究这些差异，找出可以融会贯通的地方，就能有利于我们与外国人沟通，促进中西文化交流。
西方饮食文化可说是一种理性的饮食文化，而中国饮食文化可说是一种感性的饮食文化。由于生长地域的不同和文化传统差异的缘故，西方人的饮食观倾向于突出个人特点、主张个性，而中国人的饮食观则倾向于强调天地人和、阴阳调和，由此赋予饮食以丰富的文化内涵。
通过对中西饮食文化差异的分析，我们可以了解中西方各自的文化传统，使自己能在激烈的竞争中处于不败之地；同时能对中国文化进行改善与创新。
关键词：饮食文化；地域特征；文化传统；差异
