do you split a bill?

[LaoZhang]

I like the fact that I have power to control how much tip people get in the US. I don't want to give even 5% for bad service. And if the service is really great 20% or more is well deserved and appreciated. If there's nothing to complain about, 15% it is.

The older people in my family (Chinese), however will never tip more than 10% in a Chinese restaurant because "it's Chinese" and "Chinese don't really expect a tip."

[imron]

"Expected", and if you pay less you are cheap or 小器.

Yes, because the hourly wage paid to the wait staff is incredibly low, and so a significant portion of their income is derived from tips. If you are tipping less than a certain percentage you are essentially depriving them of their income. The question then becomes, why not just pay the wait staff a reasonable wage in the first place and include the service charge in the bill? That then gets to what Laozhang mentioned about giving people the choice to pay more/less depending on the quality of the service, which acts as encouragement for the wait staff to always provide good service - because they know that if the service is bad, then the tip will be low and then they will take a hit in income.

[LaoZhang]

I've also read a study that said most people are predisposed to how much they will tip, regardless of how "extra nice" the sever is/was. So unless the service was really bad, being extra nice won't get a server an extra tip. But being bad will result in a worse tip.

[zozzen]

why not just pay the wait staff a reasonable wage in the first place and include the service charge in the bill?

Hong kong takes the system you mentioned, but it encourages bad services and service quality is controlled by complaint system. When the economy was extremely well performed in mid-1990s and restaurants were always full, it was uncommon to see a quarrel between customers and staff because the owners didn't even care customers' complaints. In my limited experience, waiters in, at least, N.Y and Las Vega are more responsive, polite and patient to their customers because they'll get what they offer.

[skylee]

Hong kong takes the system you mentioned, but it encourages bad services and service quality is controlled by complaint system. When the economy was extremely well performed in mid-1990s and restaurants were always full, it was uncommon to see a quarrel between customers and staff because the owners didn't even care customers' complaints.

How about when the economy was very bad?

I think to serve customers well is a basic job requirement. They earn their salary, and they should do their work. If they provide poor service, I can go to some place else. If they are good, I will return. If they are very good, I will pay them a tip on top of the 10% service charge.

Oh but this is not about spliting the bill.

[tony1343]

It's actually more and more common for restaurants in the U.S. to automatically include the tip/gratuity. Often they only do this for larger parties (such as greater than 6). And this amount has steadily been going from 15 to 20% in recent years to the vexation of many.

I agree that most people are set at tipping 15-20% and only move down for bad service. However, college age guys being what we are do tend to tip much better to attractive female waitresses.

[childbook88]

In Chinese Restaurants in the US what I have noticed is the tip given is not that great. I still remember a waitress who after a customer left a $1 tip, made a big thing about it. The explanation I have heard is since a tip is not given in Taiwan, it's not expected in a Chinese Restaurant in the US.

On the splitting of the bill. I have noticed the same cultural issue that when out with Ethnic Chinese in the US, the higher ranked person will pay. If it's lunch among work friends, the bill will get picked up. The arguments I have seen on paying... The tricks of pretending to go the restroom and paying the bill to just name one. Unfortunately if I detail them I would probably no longer be married.

Ray

[Luobot]

"Expected", and if you pay less you are cheap or 小器. So actually it is kind of compulsory, right? Then why is it not included in the bill? (Here in HK 10% service charge is almost always included in the bill.)

I agree with this, and it's one of the many reasons why I like HK: Life is generally simple, straight-forward, and efficient.

But I use these posts to study Chinese, and I'm confused by 小器. Does this mean "cheap/stingy" ? In looking it up, all I get is "small device" and "cheap/stingy" comes up as 小气 (simp) or 小氣 (trad). Was the wrong character selected by the IME or is "small device" another variant of "cheap/stingy" ?

[skylee]

I'm confused by 小器. Does this mean "cheap/stingy" ? In looking it up, all I get is "small device" and "cheap/stingy" comes up as 小气 (simp) or 小氣 (trad). Was the wrong character selected by the IME or is "small device" another variant of "cheap/stingy" ?

Take a look at this -> http://140.111.34.46/cgi-bin/newDict/dict.sh?cond=%A4p%BE%B9&pieceLen=50&fld=1&cat=&ukey=-1899396462&serial=1&recNo=3&op=f&imgFont=1

3 器量狹小，吝嗇，不大方。紅樓夢˙第四十七回：「我不是小器愛贏錢，原是個彩頭兒。」文明小史˙第五十二回：「你是個有體面的人物，如此小器，真真玷辱你自己了。」亦作「小氣」 。

Also this -> http://www.baidu.com/baidu?ie=gb2312&ct=1048576&cl=3&word=%D0%A1%C6%F7

小器

xiao qi

1.stingy

2.spiteful

[Luobot]

So I guess it's 都可以 -- Thanks!

[zozzen]

When i was young, "小器" was the only choice or my marks in dictation would be reduced. But both words are also very common today.

[skylee]

When i was young, "小器" was the only choice or my marks in dictation would be reduced.

I agree.

[zozzen]

After staying in china a month more, I've finally figured out the "killer way" to ask for splitting a bill efficiently, politely and happily.

"就让我请你吧."

"AA 吧! 方便点啊."

"甚么AA 啊, 多麻烦, 你如果把我当成是朋友, 就让我请吧."

killer answer---> (smiling) "哎哟, 那就看你把我这个朋友看成是一次性还是多次性啦, 要是一次性就你请客, 要是多次性就 AA 嘛. 我们之后经常出来玩, 怎么能天天请客. 除非你把我看成一夜情...不, 是一次性朋友啦."

So far the "killer answer" works all the time, and everyone seems to be pleased and happy with the answer like this. If you're as me to insist going dutch ( i hate to treat or being treated), hope the answer can work for you too.

Vocab:

一次性 is a mainland chinese term for describing "disposable" tableware. (in my opinion, this term is terrible, and that's why it's so good to make comical tones )

一夜情: "one night stand".