买单
mǎidān
In Chinese, the phrase to pay bill is 买单 (mǎidān).
买单 is a colloquial way to say 'pay bill,' typically used when you want to pay for a meal or services at a restaurant or similar establishment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 买, meaning 'to buy' and 单, meaning 'list' or 'bill'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
买单 is an informal, common way to ask for the bill in restaurants. In more professional or upscale settings, a more formal alternative is 结账, which means 'settle the account'.
How do you pronounce it?
mǎidān
Did you know?
- Beyond restaurants, 买单 is used metaphorically to mean 'taking the fall' or 'paying the price' for someone else's mistake, similar to the English expression 'footing the bill'.
- If you are dining with a group, it is common for one person to aggressively compete to 买单 as a sign of generosity and respect toward the guests.
- The term 买单 emerged from the Cantonese dialect of Hong Kong and Southern China before spreading to Mandarin. It reflects the commercial history of these trade-heavy regions.
Examples in context
- 我想付账。 (Wǒ xiǎng fù zhàng.)I would like to pay the bill.
- 我可以付钱吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ fù qián ma?)Can I pay the bill?
- 我来买单。 (Wǒ lái mǎi dān.)I'll pay the bill.
- 服务员，请买单。fú wù yuán, qǐng mǎi dān.Waiter, please settle the bill.
- 我们现在买单吧。wǒ men xiàn zài mǎi dān ba.Let's pay the bill now.
- 今天我来买单。jīn tiān wǒ lái mǎi dān.I will pay the bill today.
Example conversation
A couple finishing a meal at a restaurant.
- 梓涵 Zihan伟，我们要买单了吗？wěi, wǒ men yào mǎi dān le ma?Wei, are we ready to pay the bill?
- 伟 Wei是的，我这就叫服务员。shì de, wǒ zhè jiù jiào fú wù yuán.Yes, I will call the waiter right now.
- 梓涵 Zihan太好了，我等不及要去逛街了。tài hǎo le, wǒ děng bù jí yào qù guàng jiē le.Great, I can't wait to go shopping.
- 伟 Wei别急，梓涵，我们慢慢走。bié jí, zǐ hán, wǒ men màn màn zǒu.Don't be in a rush, Zihan, let's take our time.
