Ordering the Bill

About

We know you're serious about a career in China, so let us share a professional secret: fight to pay for

the bill. Like going over the top in World War I, the struggle to pay for lunch is a doomed but valorous

effort that commands respect and gives you face. So pull out your wallet, shake off the objections of your

colleagues and try to flag down that waiter.

This being easier said than done, in this podcast we give you a leg-up by teaching the two magic words

you'll need to dazzle the waiter into taking money from your outstretched palm. Combined with the

physical act of thrusting funds into his or her hands, this is a surprisingly effective method of resolving

the who-gets-to-pay dispute. But sometimes your business partner might be physically restraining you,

so it's still critical to get the verbal part down.

Sentences

买单。

mǎidān 。

Bill please!

哎,买单!

ai , mǎidān !

Hey, can I get the bill!

服务员,买单!

fúwùyuán , mǎidān !

Waiter, the bill!

马上!

mǎshàng !

Right away!

Vocabulary

买单

mǎidān

to order the bill

verb

服务员

fúwùyuán

waiter

noun

埋单

máidān

to order the bill (variant)

verb

马上

mǎshàng

immediately

adverb

付账

fùzhàng

to get the bill

verb

付钱

fùqián

to pay money

verb

结账

jiézhàng

to settle the bill

verb

算账

suànzhàng

to order the bill

verb

打包

dǎbāo

to take away

verb

多少

duōshǎo

how much

question