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How to Say ‘Why don't we split the bill in half?’ in Japanese

お会計、半分ずつにしませんか。

o kaikei hanbun zutsu ni shi mase n ka

[oh kai-KAY hahn-BOON ZOO-tsoo nee shee mah-SEH n kah]

💬 Usage Tip: 〜にしませんか means "why don't we go with ~?", a polite way to propose a choice: コーヒーにしませんか "shall we have coffee?".

🇯🇵 In Japan: Splitting the bill, called 割り勘 (warikan) "going Dutch", is common in Japan. Offering it on a first date is considerate, even if the other person may insist on paying.

Phrase Breakdown

お会計、

o kaikei

the bill / the check

'会計' means the bill, and 'お' makes it polite. Pronounce it o-kai-kei. The 'kei' sounds like 'kē'.

Example

お会計お願いします。

Check, please.

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific prefix used in polite expressions

The polite prefix お makes the following word sound more courteous.

Example

お願いできますか。

Could you please do that?

会計

kaikei

[kai-KAY]

bill; payment; checkout

The act of paying the bill, especially at a restaurant or shop; also means accounting.

Example

会計をお願いします。

The check, please.

半分ずつに

hanbun zutsu ni

half each

'半分' (hanbun) means half, and 'ずつ' means each. 'に' links to the verb that follows.

Example

ケーキを半分ずつにしよう。

Let's split the cake half and half.

Words in this phrase

半分

hanbun

[hahn-BOON]

half

One of two equal parts.

Example

ケーキを半分食べた。

I ate half the cake.

ずつ

zutsu

[ZOO-tsoo]

each; at a time

Shows an equal amount per unit.

Example

一つずつ並べて。

Line them up one at a time.

に

[nee]

(result marker: decide on)

With suru, marks the choice or result decided on.

Example

コーヒーにします。

I'll have coffee.

しませんか。

shi mase n ka

why don't we do (that)?

The negative question '〜ませんか' is a polite invitation or suggestion. Let your voice rise at the end.

Example

一緒に昼ご飯を食べませんか。

Would you like to have lunch together?

Words in this phrase

し

shi

[shee]

do; make

The verb stem of する, attached to 交換 to form the action 'to exchange.'

Example

名刺を交換したいです。

I want to exchange business cards.

ませ

mase

[mah-SEH]

polite negative ending

Part of the polite negative form -masen, making a verb or expression negative and polite.

Example

わかりません。

I don't understand.

ん

[n]

(negative ending)

Contracted form of the polite negative ending, as in ありません.

Example

今日は時間がありません。

I don't have time today.

か

[kah]

question marker

Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.

Example

A席はありますか。

Are there A seats available?

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