买单
mǎidān
In Chinese, "bill please" is expressed as 买单 (mǎidān).
The phrase is used as a functional equivalent to "the check, please" or "bill, please" when you want to request the total amount owed at a restaurant or cafe.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 买 (mǎi), meaning "to buy" and 单 (dān), meaning "list" or "bill".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to be slightly more formal, you can use 结账, which means "to settle the account". For a friendly and informal tone, you can use 买单啦. The term 埋单 is also a commonly used informal alternative.
How do you pronounce it?
mǎidān
Did you know?
- When dining in a group, it is common for one person to 'fight' to pay the whole bill as a sign of generosity, even if the others offer to split it.
- In many Chinese restaurants, it is customary to pay at a central cashier station near the exit rather than at the table.
- In some traditional settings, shouting 买单 loudly across the room is considered acceptable and efficient rather than rude.
Examples in context
- 买单。The bill, please.This sentence is useful for practicing how to say 买单.Tatoeba #338786 by sysko, translation #462578 by lukaszpp
- 请帮我结账。Please help me settle the bill.
- 请给我买单。Please give me the bill.
- 服务员，请买单。fú wù yuán, qǐng mǎi dān.Waiter, bill please.
- 我们要买单。wǒ men yào mǎi dān.We want to pay the bill.
Example conversation
A young couple is finishing their meal at a small cafe.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，我们买单吧。Xiǎo Wén, wǒ men mǎi dān ba.Xiaowen, let's pay the bill.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好的，我也准备好了。Hǎo de, wǒ yě zhǔn bèi hǎo le.Okay, I am ready too.
- 俊杰 Junjie服务员，买单！fú wù yuán, mǎi dān!Waiter, bill please!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen俊杰，我来付钱吧。Jùnjié, wǒ lái fù qián ba.Junjie, let me pay.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
