很多时候，一些谈判和商讨都是在餐桌上完成的，那么今天就让我们来介绍一下西方的宴客方式都有哪些。

Seated dinners 宴会(较正式，嘉宾每人都有各自固定的席位)

Buffet dinners 自助餐(也称冷餐会)

Cocktail parties 鸡尾酒会 (时尚发布会后经常举办类似酒会)

BYOB and BYOF=Bring your own bottles and bring your own food 聚餐会(较随意)

Receptions 招待会

Picnics野餐

Tea parties 茶话会

情景对话：如何用英语请客?

Friends like to treat each other

当你想请别人吃一个冰淇淋时，该如何说呢?很简单，只要一句“I'll treat you to ice cream.”就行了。这天，Susan就请她的中国朋友Maymay和Lin到快餐馆吃饭。

S: Here we are. This is my favourite place.

M: How many times have you come here?

S: I never counted.

L: I'd like to sit near the window.

S: Please be seated. It's my treat today.

M: Fast food restaurants are popular now.

L: They are popular for quick, inexpensive meals or snacks.

S: What would you like to eat?

L: I'll try a steak sandwich with a hamburger.

M: Sounds good. I think I'll have the same.

S: Want something to drink?

L: Coke, please.

M: A cup of hot chocolate would be fine.

英语里“请客”的几种说法

北方人多半是热情大方的。同学聚会的时候人人都嚷着"我请客"，抢着付账。那么，这个"请客"用英语该怎么说呢?耐心看下去，就会发现答案了。

1. It's on me.

这句话的意思就是"我请客"。如果Waiter送一些免费的小菜，他会说：It's on the house. 店老板请客，意思就是"免费赠送"。

还记得在电影Duplex中，Alex 问Starbucks里的女店员能不能让他在店里写完那本书，女店员就说到：Be my guest. 意思就是"别客气"。Be my guest. 也可以用来表示"我请客"。

2. It's my treat.

见了treat，别以为它只有"对待"的意思，它还可以表示"款待、招待"，比如你和别人打赌，输了之后，You had to treat her to an ice cream. 你不得不请她吃冰淇淋。不过款待人，也不一定总是要"吃吃喝喝"，也可以来点高雅的，比如说I'll treat you all to a little piano specialty of my own. 我要请大家听一首我特地自谱的钢琴曲，这种招待客人的方式还真是够水平的。当然treat还有"名词"的身份，表示"请客、做东"，所以如果你想表示"我做东，我请客"，就拍拍胸脯说：It's my treat. 或是I want to treat you.

3. Let me foot the bill.

这里的foot真是和"英尺"、"脚"没有任何关系了，在老外的口头语中，foot可以做动词，表示"支付帐单或费用"，就相当于Let me pay the bill.