Formal to Senior
Cultural · Dining
湯呑みは、両手でお持ちすればよろしいでしょうか？ — Should I hold the teacup with both hands? (Cultural · Dining, Formal to Senior, JLPT N4)
You
湯呑みは、両手でお持ちすればよろしいでしょうか？
ゆのみは、りょうてでおもちすればよろしいでしょうか？
Should I hold the teacup with both hands?
Romaji: Yunomi wa, ryoute de omochi sureba yoroshii deshou ka? / Reply Romaji: Hai, sou desu ne. Migi te de yunomi o motte, hidari te o soko ni soeru no ga teinei desu.
Reply
はい、そうですね。右手で湯呑みを持って、左手を底に添えるのが丁寧です。
はい、そうですね。みぎてでゆのみをもって、ひだりてをそこにそえるのがていねいです。
Yes, that's right. Holding the cup with your right hand and supporting the bottom with your left is the polite way.
Gesture & etiquette
Lift cup with right hand on the side, left hand cradling underneath. Bring to lips slowly. Pause briefly to appreciate the aroma before sipping. After drinking, lower with both hands. Quiet appreciation tone if the tea is good ('oishii desu ne').
Holding Japanese tea cups (yunomi) properly: right hand grips the cup's body (no handles in traditional yunomi), left hand supports gently underneath. Both hands signal respect to the tea, the host, and the moment. Hot tea is sipped slowly — never gulped. After drinking, set the cup down with both hands. In tea ceremony, additional rotation rituals apply (see matcha entries).