qǐng kè: 请客 - To treat, To host, To invite someone to a meal

• Keywords: qingke, qǐng kè, 请客, treat to dinner Chinese, invite to a meal Chinese, who pays in China, Chinese hosting culture, Chinese social etiquette, 人情, 关系, 面子
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 请客 (qǐng kè), which means “to treat” or “to host,” typically for a meal. This entry explores why 请客 is more than just paying the bill; it's a fundamental social ritual in China for building relationships (关系), showing respect, and giving “face” (面子). Understand the cultural etiquette behind hosting, paying, and being a guest in modern China, a crucial skill for anyone interacting with Chinese friends or business partners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qǐng kè
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (often functions as a single verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To act as the host by inviting someone for a meal or entertainment and paying for all associated costs.
• In a Nutshell: 请客 (qǐng kè) is the act of treating someone. It's a cornerstone of Chinese social life. When someone says “我请客 (wǒ qǐng kè),” it means “It's my treat.” This isn't just a casual offer; it's an important gesture of generosity, hospitality, and friendship. The concept is deeply tied to building and maintaining relationships, showing respect, and celebrating occasions.

• 请 (qǐng): This character means “to invite,” “to request,” or “please.” It's composed of the speech radical 讠(yán) and 青 (qīng), which provides the sound. The presence of the speech radical emphasizes that it's a polite, verbal action.
• 客 (kè): This character means “guest” or “visitor.” The top part 宀 (mián) is the “roof” radical, depicting a person under a roof, signifying a visitor or someone being housed.

When combined, 请客 (qǐng kè) literally translates to “invite a guest.” This perfectly captures the meaning: you are formally inviting someone to be your guest, with the cultural understanding that you, the host, will take care of everything, especially the bill.

In Chinese culture, 请客 is a powerful social tool used to weave the fabric of society. It's how relationships (关系 guānxi) are initiated, strengthened, and maintained. The Western concept of “treating someone” is similar, but 请客 carries a heavier social weight. While “going Dutch” (AA制 AA zhì) is common in the West, it can be seen as distant or even insulting in many Chinese contexts, implying that the relationship isn't close enough for one person to extend generosity to the other. 请客 is deeply intertwined with two other cultural pillars: 1. 面子 (miànzi) - “Face” or Social Prestige: The person who hosts (请客) gains face by being generous. A lavish or well-thought-out meal shows the host's capability and their high regard for the guests. Conversely, allowing a guest to pay can cause the host to “lose face.” 2. 人情 (rénqíng) - Human Favor/Obligation: An act of 请客 creates a social debt or 人情. The guest is now socially obligated to reciprocate in the future, perhaps by treating the host next time or offering help in another form. This cycle of treating and reciprocating builds a strong, mutually beneficial relationship over time. For a beginner, the key takeaway is that offering to 请客 is a significant sign of goodwill, and accepting such an offer graciously is equally important.

请客 is a daily practice across all social strata.

• Social Gatherings: Among friends and family, 请客 is the norm for birthdays, holidays, or celebrating good news like a new job or promotion. It's common to see a friendly “fight” over the bill (买单 mǎidān), where everyone tries to pay to show their generosity. The original host is generally expected to “win” this polite struggle.
• Business Context: In business, 请客 is non-negotiable. It's how you welcome potential clients, thank partners, and build trust. The scale and quality of the meal often signal the importance of the business relationship.
• Dating and Romance: Traditionally, the man is expected to 请客 on dates, though this is evolving among younger generations in big cities. Still, the gesture is often seen as a sign of sincerity and capability.
• Informal Treats: The term isn't limited to expensive banquets. A friend might say “我请客” for something as simple as bubble tea or a coffee. The principle remains the same: it's a gesture of warmth and friendship.

• Example 1:
• 今天我请客，大家随便点！
• Pinyin: Jīntiān wǒ qǐng kè, dàjiā suíbiàn diǎn!
• English: It's my treat today, everyone order whatever you want!
• Analysis: A classic, generous phrase used by a host to make guests feel comfortable and welcome. “随便点 (suíbiàn diǎn)” means “order freely.”
• Example 2:
• 这次你请客，下次我来。
• Pinyin: Zhè cì nǐ qǐng kè, xià cì wǒ lái.
• English: You can treat this time, and I'll get it next time.
• Analysis: This is a very common way to handle paying among friends. It acknowledges the host's generosity while establishing the reciprocity expected in the relationship.
• Example 3:
• 他升职了，说要请客吃饭。
• Pinyin: Tā shēngzhí le, shuō yào qǐng kè chīfàn.
• English: He got a promotion, so he said he wants to treat everyone to a meal.
• Analysis: This shows 请客 being used to share good news and fortune with a group, a very common social obligation.
• Example 4:
• 别跟我抢，今天说好了我请客。
• Pinyin: Bié gēn wǒ qiǎng, jīntiān shuō hǎo le wǒ qǐng kè.
• English: Don't fight me for the bill, we already agreed I would treat today.
• Analysis: This sentence is frequently used during the “polite fight” over the bill. “抢 (qiǎng)” means to grab or fight over.
• Example 5:
• A: 今天谁请客呀？ B: 当然是老板请客！
• Pinyin: A: Jīntiān shéi qǐng kè ya? B: Dāngrán shì lǎobǎn qǐng kè!
• English: A: Who's treating today? B: The boss, of course!
• Analysis: A lighthearted exchange you might hear at a company dinner. It's common for a person of higher status (like a boss or an elder) to 请客.
• Example 6:
• 为了感谢你的帮助，这顿饭我必须请客。
• Pinyin: Wèile gǎnxiè nǐ de bāngzhù, zhè dùn fàn wǒ bìxū qǐng kè.
• English: To thank you for your help, I must treat you to this meal.
• Analysis: This demonstrates using 请客 to repay a favor, a key part of maintaining 人情 (rénqíng).
• Example 7:
• 他这个人很大方，总是喜欢请客。
• Pinyin: Tā zhè ge rén hěn dàfāng, zǒngshì xǐhuān qǐng kè.
• English: He is a very generous person, he always likes to treat people.
• Analysis: This describes someone's character. Being willing to 请客 is seen as a sign of generosity (大方 dàfāng).
• Example 8:
• 你远道而来，理应由我请客。
• Pinyin: Nǐ yuǎndào'érlái, lǐyīng yóu wǒ qǐng kè.
• English: You've come from afar, it's only right that I should be the one to treat you.
• Analysis: “远道而来 (yuǎndào'érlái)” is a formal way to say “come from far away.” This reflects the deep-seated rule of hospitality: the local person always hosts the visitor.
• Example 9:
• 你不用这么客气，咱们之间谁请客不都一样吗？
• Pinyin: Nǐ búyòng zhème kèqi, zánmen zhījiān shéi qǐng kè bù dōu yíyàng ma?
• English: You don't have to be so polite, between us, doesn't it all amount to the same thing whoever treats?
• Analysis: This is something a very close friend might say to downplay the formality of 请客, indicating their relationship is beyond the need for such score-keeping.
• Example 10:
• 周末有空吗？我想请客看电影。
• Pinyin: Zhōumò yǒu kòng ma? Wǒ xiǎng qǐng kè kàn diànyǐng.
• English: Are you free this weekend? I'd like to treat you to a movie.
• Analysis: Shows that 请客 isn't limited to meals. It can extend to other forms of entertainment like movies, KTV, or drinks.

• Mistake 1: Insisting on “Going Dutch.” For a foreigner, aggressively suggesting to split the bill (AA制 AA zhì) can be a major faux pas. It can make your Chinese host feel that you are rejecting their friendship or that you think they cannot afford it, causing them to lose face. The polite way is to offer to pay once or twice, but allow the host to “win.” You can reciprocate by treating them next time.
• Mistake 2: Confusing `请 (qǐng)` with `请客 (qǐng kè)`.
  • 请客 (qǐng kè) is a set phrase meaning “to treat / to host.” Example: 我请客 (wǒ qǐng kè) - “It's my treat.”
  • 请 (qǐng) is a more general verb, “to invite.” It requires an object and often another verb. Example: 我请你吃饭 (wǒ qǐng nǐ chīfàn) - “I invite you to eat a meal.” This implies paying, but the focus is on the invitation itself. `请客` is a statement about who is paying.
• The Bill-Paying Dance: Don't be alarmed by the “fight” for the bill. It's a social performance. As a guest, you should make a sincere gesture to pay. This shows you are not taking the host's generosity for granted. After they refuse, thank them profusely. This shows respect for their hospitality and gives them face.

• AA制 (AA zhì): “Going Dutch,” splitting the bill. The cultural alternative (and often, opposite) to 请客.
• 做东 (zuòdōng): To act as a host. A slightly more formal synonym for 请客, often used in the phrase “今天我做东 (jīntiān wǒ zuòdōng)” - “Today I'll be the host.”
• 买单 (mǎidān): To pay the bill (literally “buy the bill”). This is the physical act that the person who is 请客 performs at the end of the meal.
• 面子 (miànzi): “Face,” social standing, prestige. A core concept in Chinese culture that is given and gained through actions like 请客.
• 关系 (guānxi): Social networks, connections, relationships. 请客 is arguably the single most important activity for building and maintaining 关系.
• 人情 (rénqíng): Human favor; the currency of social obligation. You create 人情 when someone treats you, which you are expected to repay later.
• 客气 (kèqi): To be polite, courteous. A host will tell a guest “别客气 (bié kèqi!)” meaning “Don't be polite, make yourself at home!”
• 款待 (kuǎndài): To treat with hospitality, to entertain cordially. A more formal verb that describes the host's warm and generous behavior.