买单
mǎidān
In Chinese, the phrase for 'can I have the bill?' is 买单 (mǎidān).
This phrase is used to request to pay for a meal or services at a restaurant. To get the attention of staff, you can call out to the server using 服务员，买单！ (Waiter, the bill please!).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 买单 is composed of 买 (mǎi), meaning 'to buy' and 单 (dān), meaning 'bill' or 'list'.
Which one should you use?
While 买单 is a common and direct way to ask for the bill, 结账 (jiézhàng) means 'to settle the account' and is a slightly more formal alternative. You may also see 买单吧 (mǎi dān ba) used to mean 'Let's pay the bill, shall we?' and 老板，结账 (láobǎn, jiézhàng) to mean 'Boss, check please'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
买单 is a common, direct way to ask for the bill in casual or standard dining settings. For more formal situations, you can use the phrase 麻烦给我结账 (máfan gěi wǒ jiézhàng), which translates to 'Could you please bring me the bill?'
How do you pronounce it?
mǎidān
Did you know?
- The concept of 'splitting the bill' is less common in traditional Chinese culture than in the West, though the modern phrase AA制 (AA zhì) is now used by young people to suggest splitting costs.
- When using 买单 in a group, it is a common social custom for one person to insist on paying for everyone to show generosity, often leading to a playful 'fight' over who gets to pay.
- In many modern Chinese restaurants, you might actually settle your 'account' by scanning a QR code on your table rather than calling for 买单 at all.
Examples in context
- 请给我买单，谢谢。May I have the bill, please? Thank you.
- 服务员，我们要买单。fú wù yuán, wǒ men yào mǎi dān.Waiter, we would like to pay the bill.
- 请问，现在可以买单吗？qǐng wèn, xiàn zài kě yǐ mǎi dān ma?Excuse me, can I have the bill now?
Example conversation
At a small restaurant after finishing a meal.
- 佳怡 Jiayi服务员，请问可以买单吗？fú wù yuán, qǐng wèn kě yǐ mǎi dān ma?Waiter, can I have the bill, please?
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，请稍等一下。hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng yí xià.Okay, please wait a moment.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，我们一共多少钱？zhì qiáng, wǒ men yí gòng duō shǎo qián?Zhiqiang, how much do we owe in total?
- 志强 Zhiqiang一共两百块。yí gòng liǎng bǎi kuài.It is two hundred yuan in total.
