Drink or Dine? "Would you like to grab a coffee sometime?" My friend texted me when I came to Australia. "Sounds nice!" I replied. But actually, people in China more often invite their friends for dinner or lunch rather than "a coffee", which can be regarded too business-style and too light a treat. Sometimes, the invitation can be "would you like to have a drink/go out tonight?", which is a sharp contrast with Chinese "dinner" culture. "Drink or dine" is not only the difference between China and Australia, but probably also the difference between Asian countries and the Western world. My Korean friend confirmed a similar case in her country (but Korea has a stronger drinking culture compared to China). And my Czech friend told me that only in formal celebrations will she invite friends for dinner; most of the time, a coffee or a drink would start a good conversation between friends. In China, the emphasis on food may have deep roots in our culture. As the old Chinese saying goes, "Food is a paramount necessity". While this may be universal in the world, the great varieties of cuisines in China can definitely dazzle the eyes. Delicious food, nice environment and a good chat are important ingredients of Chinese social life. What about in your country? What would you say if you want to invite your friend out? Thanks.