holding chopsticks in one's mouth
A specific breach of Japanese table manners; refers to the act of holding chopsticks in the mouth, often while using both hands for something else. Considered rude and childish.
Holding chopsticks in your mouth is bad manners.
I warned the child not to hold chopsticks in their mouth.
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling; the kanji 箸 is standard for 'chopsticks'.
Rare kanji spelling using 銜 (くわ.える, 'hold in mouth'); not commonly used in modern writing.
Compound of くわえ (continuative form of くわえる 'hold in mouth') + 箸 (はし 'chopsticks'). The reading くわえばし results from rendaku voicing of はし.