Formal — to stranger
Cultural · Religion
抹茶をいただく前に、茶碗を時計回りに二回ほど回します。 — Before drinking matcha, turn the tea bowl about two times clockwise. (Cultural · Religion, Formal — to stranger, JLPT N3)
You
抹茶をいただく前に、茶碗を時計回りに二回ほど回します。
まっちゃをいただくまえに、ちゃわんをとけいまわりににかいほどまわします。
Before drinking matcha, turn the tea bowl about two times clockwise.
Romaji: Maccha wo itadaku mae ni, chawan wo tokei-mawari ni nikai hodo mawashimasu. / Reply Romaji: Shoumen wo sakeru tame desu yo ne.
Reply
正面を避けるためですよね。
しょうめんをさけるためですよね。
To avoid drinking from the front side, right?
Gesture & etiquette
Receive the chawan from the server with both hands. Place on left palm, right hand on the side. Turn 90° clockwise (two small turns to total ~180°) so the front faces away. Drink in 3 sips. Wipe rim with thumb-index. Turn back, return with both hands.
茶道 (tea ceremony) chawan rotation — the 正面 (front, decorated/honored side) is most prized. Turning the bowl ~90° per turn (two small turns) so the front faces away shows humility — you drink from a less-honored part. Drink in 3 sips. After, lightly wipe the rim with thumb and index, turn the bowl back to face the host, return with both hands.