一起吃飯最尷尬莫過于沒人主動站出來買單，但是不該你買單的時候搶著付錢也可能讓人心里不舒服，不過你也不能不分對象和誰都AA制。要知道，買單也是一門學問，現在咱們就來系統地學習一下。

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

Several potential scenarios can play out:
有以下幾種場景可能會出現：

Should you split the check evenly?
所有人平攤飯錢？

Should everyone pay for their own meal?
大家各付各的？

Is it expected that your father-in-law will pick up the check?
等著岳父或公公請客？

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

We spoke with three experts Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, David Weliver, founder of financial advice website Money Under 30, and Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick, founder and president of The Etiquette School of New York to definitively decide how to handle the bill in 10 common situations.
這次，我們與3位專家聊了聊如何解決10種常見就餐情形中的買單問題。他們分別是：全國禮儀專家及德克薩斯州禮儀學院的所有者黛安?戈特斯曼、金融建議網站Money Under 30的創始人大衛?韋利弗、紐約禮儀學校創始人及校長帕特里夏?納皮爾?菲茨帕特里克。

"Other than business meals, there are no hard and fast rules for splitting the check," Napier-Fitzpatrick told Business Insider. In business, it's protocol for the person extending the invitation to pay.”
帕特里夏告訴我們：“與商務應酬不同，生活聚餐沒有關于分攤賬單的明確規定。在商務應酬中，發出邀請的一方請客，是一種慣例。

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 considerate when it comes to paying for meals."
但其他的用餐情形仍然遵守著某些規則，正是這些規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的很周到。”

Read on to check out who's turn it is to pick up the bill when, and avoid those awkward "How do you wanna do this?" conversations for good.
繼續閱讀下面的內容，你就能知道什么時候買單、誰該買單，再也不用開口問“咱們怎么付賬好？”這種尷尬的問題。

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 respective day pays.
每對各付各的，或者輪流分天買單。

Dinner with a boyfriend/girlfriend
情侶餐

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

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。

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。

Dinner with a close friend
閨蜜餐

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 reciprocated.
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。

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，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。

Dinners with a coworker
同事餐

Each person usually pays for what they ordered.
通常是各付各的。

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 siblings, 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。

Dinner with in-laws
姻親餐

Handled on a case-by-case basis.
具體情況具體分析。

Typically, the most senior family member is expected to pay.
一般來說，家中最年長的長輩會買單。

If the younger family members have much more means or want to make a special gesture, as in the case of meeting a boyfriend or girlfriend’s parents for the first time, they might pick up the check.
年輕家庭成員如果家境更好、想表示心意時，可以請客，比如首次見男友或女友的父母。

英文來源：商業內幕網
翻譯：楊國珍（中國日報網愛新聞iNews譯者）
審校&編輯：丹妮