Comments on: Fighting over the Bill

By: luobinzhenmei

luobinzhenmei

Hey, our trick WAS to pretend to go to the bathroom and then pay the bill. Now everyone will know. Thanks a lot, Chinesepod (sarcasm). We've tried saying we are our guests' parents and ought to pay, that our children are not filial if they let us lose face. That only works if one has gray hair, and then it doesn't always.

By: changye

changye

What a GREAT LESSON! This is definitely the most useful lesson I’ve ever learned in Chinesepod. Today’s dialogue is full of practical expressions. You must memorize all of them if you come to China. My boss often treats me to lunch or dinner and usually doesn’t let me pay the bill for them. I will try to use the tactics I learned here after checking if my credit cards are still valid.

By: jennyzhu

jennyzhu

It seems like life here revolves around political considerations of who to eat with and where at.

By: artkho

artkho

Bazza's going to be disappointed; Jenny's going to insist on going dutch. ;-)

By: billybobjoebobwilly

billybobjoebobwilly

I find it somewhat difficult when with those who will fight for the bill. It's too complicated. I'd rather just go A-A (going dutch). Much simpler and you can really enjoy the company (not like you 'owe' someone a dinner so they invite you out to receive it? ugghh)

By: oneringtorulethemall

oneringtorulethemall

Paying for dinner is a sign of respect, of friendship. If you treat someone and then expect someone to treat you in return, it's flawed and pointless. Then you get in this ''I give you this but you must give me this in return'' and then it's worse than going dutch, it's trading in a hypocrite way. I quite simply hate it when people go: ''Ok, you had a glass of juice but I had a sip, so I should pay you half a yuan. Ok who ate the most bread, you should pay most.'' It drives me nuts. I try to pay most of the time but wil gladly accept if someone chooses to treat me. It makes me happy to pay for dinner and I don't expect people to thank me for it. Would anyone reassure me and tell me that they also enjoy treating the people they care about without any further hidden agendas?

By: marygrace

marygrace

(1) I like to pay the bill when I can use my credit card and get frequent flier miles. So how do you say, "Do you accept American Express"? (2) Do you think it's fair to say that if a friend treats you twice, then it's your turn to treat? (3) Are some people always supposed to treat? (4) If I know I can't treat, then I bring a gift for my host. :)

By: danjo

danjo

one ring to rule the mall (i am a lotr fan but i decided it's funnier written out that way), When I go out to dinner with Chinese friends they are generally students, and I assure you there is no hidden agenda. I actually don't like to do it much because they are uncomfortable with me paying all the time but I am uncomfortable with them paying due to their severe lack of money. But they want to pay simply because we are friends. Well, there was one student in danger of failing with a not-so-hidden agenda but he still got the (barely passing) grade he deserved.

By: oneringtorulethemall

oneringtorulethemall

I feel the same way, danjo. I seldom let my students pay for anything. Considering how well off the foreigners are in China compared to the students, it would be unacceptable, morally speaking. Thank you for sharing, I was getting worried here!;-)

By: Kyle

Kyle

I've been out to dinner a number of times and have yet to fight over the bill. However, about a month ago at hot pot I saw two friends actually get into a fist fight over the bill. Granted they had consumed a lot of alcohol prior, but still, a bit extreme.

By: katherine0204

katherine0204

Haha, It's a good idea