账单
zhàngdān
In Chinese, the word for bill is 账单 (zhàngdān).
账单 is used to mean an invoice or a statement of account. The character 账 (zhàng) is often combined with other words to specify the type of bill being discussed. If you are in a restaurant and wish to signal that you are ready to pay or ask for the bill, use the verb phrase 买单 instead of the noun 账单.
Meaning: invoice (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 账单 is a compound of 账, meaning account or ledger and 单, meaning list or sheet.
Which one should you use?
Use 账单 for a general invoice or statement of account, whereas 费用 refers more generally to expenses or costs incurred.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
zhàngdān
When do people say it?
In China, tipping is not a common practice and is generally not expected.
Did you know?
- In China, the act of fighting over who gets to pay the 账单 is often seen as a sign of generosity and respect. This 'polite struggle' can involve physically blocking the other person from reaching the cashier.
- In some traditional contexts, the character 账 (zhàng) relates to an abacus. The term for 'calculating' or 'settling' an account historically mirrors the physical movement of beads on a counting frame.
- If you want to refer to a very formal, official invoice used for tax purposes, you would use a different term, 发票 (fāpiào), instead of 账单.
Examples in context
- 这是账单。Here is your bill.This sentence is useful for presenting a 账单.Tatoeba #7774826 by jiangche, translation #64716 by CK
- 我认为你要看账单。I guess you want to see the bill.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone wants to see the 账单.Tatoeba #9408613 by BobbyLee, translation #8021691 by Amastan
- 服务员，买单！Waiter, the bill, please!
- 我们分开结账吧！Let's split the bill!
- 请分开给我们结账。Please give us separate bills.
- 请确认一下这张账单。Qǐng quèrèn yīxià zhè zhāng zhàngdān.Please confirm this bill.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jiayi and Zhiqiang are finishing their meal at a restaurant.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，我们要买单吗？Zhìqiáng, wǒmen yào mǎidān ma?Zhiqiang, should we pay now?
- 志强 Zhiqiang是的，服务员，请给我账单。Shì de, fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ zhàngdān.Yes. Waiter, please give me the bill.
- 佳怡 Jiayi这次我来付账单吧。Zhè cì wǒ lái fù zhàngdān ba.I'll pay the bill this time.
- 志强 Zhiqiang太谢谢佳怡了！Tài xièxie Jiāyí le!Thank you so much, Jiayi!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
