AA制吧
AA zhì ba
Let's split the bill
AA制吧 (AA zhì ba) suggests splitting the bill or going Dutch, a common practice among friends, especially younger ones, when dining out. It's a casual way to propose sharing costs equally.
What does AA制吧 (AA zhì ba) mean?
AA制吧 (AA zhì ba) means “let's split the bill” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “AA system, let's.”
When to use it
Casual and friendly. It's very common among friends and peers. If you want to offer to pay, you can say 我请客 (wǒ qǐngkè), which means “my treat.”
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “AH-AH ZHEE-bah.” The “AA” is pronounced like the English letters, “制” is a falling tone, and “吧” is a light, neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- AA制AA zhìgoing Dutch / splitting the bill (the system)
- 我们AA吧wǒmen AA baLet's go Dutch.
- 各付各的gè fù gè deeach pays their own
Examples
我们今天AA制吧!
wǒmen jīntiān AA zhì ba!
Let's split the bill today!
下次吃饭我们AA制。
xià cì chīfàn wǒmen AA zhì.
Next time we eat, let's go Dutch.
大家AA制,这样比较公平。
dàjiā AA zhì, zhèyàng bǐjiào gōngpíng.
Everyone splits the bill; it's fairer this way.
Pro tip: AA制 is a direct loan from English “A.A. system” (likely referring to 'average allocation' or 'all-alike'), widely understood as going Dutch. It's a very common and accepted practice among friends.
Related phrases
一起吃吧 · Let's eat together我请客 · My treat叫外卖吧 · Let's order delivery
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