How do I say 'it's my treat'?

Paying for meals in China is a social ritual with its own script, and 请客 is the key verb. It means not just “pay” but “host” — you are treating the other person as your guest, even in a restaurant.

The ritual sequence:

1. The bill arrives. One person reaches for it.
2. Others object: 我来我来 (I’ll do it, I’ll do it) or 这次我请 (my treat this time).
3. Brief back-and-forth. Someone says 别跟我抢 (don’t fight me for it).
4. One person prevails. The others say 下次我请 (next time is on me).
5. This promise of reciprocity is part of the ritual — it maintains the relationship.

The modern variation: younger Chinese sometimes split the bill (AA制 — literally “AA system,” meaning go Dutch). The phrase 我们AA吧 means “let’s split it.” This is more common among students and young professionals than older generations.

请客 extends beyond meals: 请你看电影 (I’ll treat you to a movie), 请你喝咖啡 (I’ll buy you coffee), 请你吃饭 (I’ll take you out to eat). It is the social glue of Chinese friendship — treating someone is an act of care, not just money.