Length by dish and grip style - most chopsticks sold in tourist markets are too short for noodle work.
Pick the main dish, material, and grip style. The card recommends a length in cm and explains why.
Tourist-market chopsticks are usually 22 cm and made of cheap bamboo - fine for dumplings, wrong for noodles or hot pot. Length matters more than people think.
Anyone buying chopsticks. People setting up a hot pot night. Parents teaching kids chopstick grip.
Length determines reach and safety. For hot pot, longer = safer (away from boiling broth). For kids, shorter = easier to control. Length should be about the distance from your elbow to your fingertips when your arm is bent 90 degrees.
Hand size varies. The numbers are for average adult hands. Tapered tips are better for picking up individual grains (rice, peas); square tips are easier for beginners.
Why are my chopsticks hard to use? Too thick or too short for your hand.
Are metal chopsticks OK? Yes, but they conduct heat from hot pot. Use wood/bamboo for hot pot.
Why are training chopsticks easier? The ring locks your grip; once you find the right position, normal ones work.