How do I say 'check please'?

The Chinese restaurant exit ritual is more direct than in many Western countries. You typically need to call for the bill — it won’t arrive unprompted, as bringing the check unsolicited can be seen as rushing the customer.

买单 is the everyday term, borrowed from Cantonese but now standard across China. 结账 is Mandarin-origin and slightly more formal; both work everywhere.

The paying ritual has its own choreography: there is often a performative argument over who pays (别跟我抢 — “don’t fight me for it”), which is a social dance of generosity rather than genuine conflict. As a guest, offering to pay is polite; as a host, insisting on paying is expected. The phrase 这次我来 (this time it’s on me) is a warm, natural way to claim the bill.

For leftovers, 打包 means “pack to go” — it is normal and not considered cheap in China. Just say 服务员，打包 and containers will appear.