Whether you're taking a client to dinner, grabbing lunch with a new friend, or sharing a meal with your in-laws①,awkwardness can immediately settle in when the bill comes and everyone stares, silently wondering, "Who pays?"

Every dining situation, from a birthday dinner to a double date, commands its own nuances②when it comes to handling the check.

Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick, the founder and president of The Etiquette School of New York told us, "Other than business meals, there are no hard and fast rules for splitting the check③.In business, it's protocol for the person extending the invitation to pay."

In terms of all other different scenarios, I would say there are certain guidelines, things one would do to make sure they didn't feel taken advantage of and that they're being considerate④when it comes to paying for meals.

無論你是在餐廳與客戶談生意，與新朋友外出覓食，還是與另一半的家人一起吃飯，最尷尬的時刻莫過于——服務員送來賬單，大家大眼瞪小眼，心里默默盤算著：“誰來買單？”

從生日聚餐到四人約會，無論哪種聚餐情形在買單上都會有細微差別。

紐約禮儀學校創(chuàng)始人及校長帕特里夏·納皮爾·菲茨帕特里克告訴我們：“與商務應酬不同，生活聚餐沒有關于分攤賬單的明確規(guī)定。在商務應酬中，發(fā)出邀請的一方請客，是一種慣例?！?/p>

但其他的用餐情形仍然遵守著某些規(guī)則，正是這些規(guī)則能讓人們覺得自己沒被別人占了便宜，也能讓人們覺得在付賬時自己考慮得很周到。

Dinner with a date一對一約會餐Whoever asks for the date pays, regardless of gender.

不分男女，誰提出誰買單。

Double date dinners四人約會餐

Split between couples, and whoever asked for each respective⑤day pays.

每對各付各的，或者輪流分天買單。

①in-laws n. 姻親（無血緣關系的親戚）

② nuance 英 ['nju?ɑ?ns] n. 細微差別

③split the check 分開付賬，分攤賬單

④ considerate 英 [k?n's?d(?)r?t] 美 [k?n's?d?r?t]adj. 體貼的；體諒的；考慮周到的

⑤ respective 英 [r?'spekt?v] 美 [r?'sp?kt?v]

adj. 分別的，各自的

⑥ reciprocate 英 [r?'s?pr?ke?t] 美 [r?'s?pr?ket]

vt. 報答；互換；互給vi. 往復運動；互換；酬答；互給

⑦ siblings 英 ['sibli?z] n. 兄弟姐妹；同科

Dinner with a boyfriend/girlfriend情侶餐

Take turns treating each other, or split evenly.輪流請客，或者平攤。

Dinners with an acquaintance熟人餐

Split evenly if the meals are closed in price. It's okay to ask for separate checks if one person's meal is much more expensive.

點餐的價錢差不多時，大家平攤。如果某個人點的菜太貴，分開付也無妨。

Birthday dinners生日餐

It's the tradition for everyone to pitch in for the guest of honor, but if you throw your own celebration, other people are not expected to pay for you.

按傳統(tǒng)，大家一起湊份子給壽星過生日，但如果你要用自己的方式慶祝，就不要指望別人替你付了。

Business dinners商務餐

The inviter should always pay. The businesses should pay when taking clients out.

邀請人必須買單。跟客戶在外面吃飯時，公司請客。

Dinner with a close friend閨蜜/基友餐

Split evenly if the meals are evenly in price.Sometimes close friends also take turns treating each other with the expectation that it will be one day reciprocated⑥.

價格相當時兩人平攤。好朋友之間有時也會請客，一定不要忘了回請哦。

Dinner with a closed family member家庭餐

Parents usually pay for their adult children,unless a child wants to make a gesture and cover the whole bill. With your siblings⑦, pay your own bills or take turns treating each other.

父母通常會為自己的成年兒女買單，除非兒女為了表示心意而請客。和兄弟姊妹一起時，各付各的飯錢或者輪流請客。