What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 埋單 literally means 'to settle the bill' or 'to close the account'.
Which one should you use?
埋單 is used specifically for requesting a restaurant bill. If you mean 'check' in the sense of 'to have a look', you can use the informal 睇睇 or 睇下. If you mean to double-check or review something, use the informal 睇返. For formal verification of information, use 核查 and for a general formal 'check', use 查看. Finally, 檢查 is a formal term often used in medical or health contexts for a check-up or examination.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
埋單 is the standard colloquial way to ask for the bill in Cantonese-speaking restaurants. For informal situations, you can use 睇睇, 睇下 or 睇返 to mean 'check' or 'have a look'. Formal contexts require terms such as 查看, 核查 or 檢查 (for medical contexts).
How do you pronounce it?
maaidan
Did you know?
- In many Cantonese dining settings, instead of shouting 埋單, a common non-verbal 'check' for the bill is to make a writing motion in the air with your hand.
- The word 埋 in 埋單 carries the sense of 'closing' or 'gathering together', reflecting the old practice of totaling up several individual items on a handwritten list.
- If you use the formal 核查 for a restaurant bill, you might sound like a police officer or a high-level auditor investigating a discrepancy rather than a hungry customer.
Examples in context
- 我要去醫院檢查I need to go to the hospital for a check-up.
- 你可以睇睇呢個網址You can check out this website.
- 睇下我個答案對唔對Check if my answer is correct.
Example conversation
Two friends are finishing their meal at a restaurant.
- 子健 Tsz Kin嘉欣，你食飽未？ga1 han1, nei5 sik6 baau2 mei6Ka Hin, are you full yet?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我食飽咗喇，好飽。ngo5 sik6 baau2 zo2 laa3, hou2 baau2I'm full, very full.
- 子健 Tsz Kin噉我而家去埋單。gam2 ngo5 ji4 ga1 heoi3 maai4 daan1Then I'll go pay the bill now.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好嘅，多謝你，子健。hou2 ge3, do1 ze6 nei5, zi2 gin6Okay, thank you, Zi Kin.
