Polite to Colleague
Workplace · Lunch
お会計は割り勘にしましょうか？ — Shall we go Dutch on the bill? (Workplace · Lunch, Polite to Colleague, JLPT N4)
You
お会計は割り勘にしましょうか？
おかいけいはわりかんにしましょうか？
Shall we go Dutch on the bill?
Romaji: O-kaikei wa warikan ni shimashou ka? / Reply Romaji: Ee, sou shimashou. Ikura deshita ka?
Reply
ええ、そうしましょう。いくらでしたか？
ええ、そうしましょう。いくらでしたか？
Yes, let's do that. How much was it?
Gesture & etiquette
At a restaurant, the person who asks for the bill typically goes to the register or pays first, then collects from others. Counting money visibly at the table is common and acceptable in casual settings among peers.
「割り勘」(warikan — splitting the bill equally) is standard among friends and junior colleagues in Japan. However, seniors or clients are typically expected to pay for juniors — refusing to let a senior pay can be awkward. Read the situation: if someone senior insists on paying, accept graciously with thanks rather than insisting on splitting.