埋單
maai4 daan1
In Cantonese, the phrase for "bill" (as in an invoice) is 埋單 (maai4 daan1).
埋單 is used to mean picking up the check or settling the bill.
Meaning: invoice (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 埋 (maai4), meaning to settle or bury and 單 (daan1), meaning a bill or list.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
埋單 is a colloquial and informal way to ask to settle the bill, serving as the standard way to do so in Hong Kong and Guangdong.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the request polite and natural when speaking to staff, you can add 吖唔該 to the end of 埋單 to say "the bill, please".
How do you pronounce it?
maai4 daan1
Did you know?
- In Hong Kong, instead of shouting 埋單, many locals will simply catch a waiter's eye and make a writing motion in the air with their hand.
- In some older Cantonese traditions, the idea of 'burying' a debt was a way to signify that the matter was settled and should not be brought up again.
- While 埋單 is standard in Hong Kong, diners in some other Cantonese-speaking regions might use 買單, which literally means 'buying the list'.
Examples in context
- 埋單吖唔該。The bill, please.This sentence is useful for practicing how to politely ask for the bill using 埋單.Tatoeba #5949121 by nickyeow, translation #462578 by lukaszpp
- 我來埋單 (Ngo loi maai daan)I'll pick up the bill.
- 我想埋單。ngo5 soeng2 maai4 daan1.I want to pay the bill.
- 唔該，埋單。m4 goi1, maai4 daan1.Excuse me, the bill please.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are finishing their meal at a small restaurant.
- 美玲 Mei Ling食飽未呀？sik6 baau2 mei6 aa3?Are you full?
- 子健 Tsz Kin食飽喇，可以埋單喇。sik6 baau2 laa3, ho2 ji5 maai4 daan1 laa3.I'm full, we can pay the bill now.
- 美玲 Mei Ling好呀，等我叫個服務員。hou2 aa3, dang2 ngo5 giu3 go3 fuk6 mou6 jyun4.Okay, let me call a waiter.
- 子健 Tsz Kin唔該，埋單吖唔該。m4 goi1, maai4 daan1 aa1 m4 goi1.Excuse me, the bill please.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
