Welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to say “pay” in Chinese! In this article, we will explore various formal and informal ways to express the concept of “pay” in Mandarin Chinese, while also providing you with helpful tips, examples, and even regional variations if necessary. So whether you’re traveling to China, doing business with Chinese partners, or simply interested in learning new phrases, this guide has got you covered!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say “Pay” in Chinese
When you want to express the formal notion of “pay” in Chinese, you can use the following phrases:
1. 付款 (fù kuǎn) – To Pay
Example: 我要付款给服务员。(Wǒ yào fù kuǎn gěi fú wù yuán.) – I want to pay the waiter.
2. 支付 (zhī fù) – To Make Payment
Example: 请使用支付宝支付订单。(Qǐng shǐ yòng zhī fù bǎo zhī fù dìng dān.) – Please use Alipay to pay for the order.
Informal Ways to Say “Pay” in Chinese
When speaking casually or in informal situations, you can use these phrases to convey the idea of “pay” in Chinese:
1. 付钱 (fù qián) – To Pay Money
Example: 我得去付钱给商店老板。(Wǒ dé qù fù qián gěi shāng diàn lǎo bǎn.) – I have to go pay the shopkeeper.
2. 付账 (fù zhàng) – To Pay the Bill
Example: 我来付账给服务员。(Wǒ lái fù zhàng gěi fú wù yuán.) – I’ll pay the bill to the waiter.
Tips for Using “Pay” in Chinese
1. Politeness Matters
In Chinese culture, politeness is highly valued. When interacting with others, especially service staff or people of seniority, it’s good to use polite language. Phrases like “请付款” (qǐng fù kuǎn) meaning “please pay” or “请付账” (qǐng fù zhàng) meaning “please pay the bill” are great examples of polite expressions.
2. Payment Methods
China has embraced digital payment methods, and platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay are widely used. Instead of cash, it’s common to use these mobile payment apps. To ask someone to pay using a specific app, you can say, “请使用支付宝付款” (qǐng shǐ yòng zhī fù bǎo fù kuǎn) or “请使用微信支付付账” (qǐng shǐ yòng wēi xìn zhī fù fù zhàng).
Regional Variations (Southern China)
While Mandarin Chinese is the official language of China, there are regional variations. In the southern parts of China, particularly in Guangdong province, Cantonese is widely spoken. Here are a couple of Cantonese phrases to say “pay”:
1. 俾錢 (bei2 cin2) – To Give Money
Example: 我要俾錢比你。(ngo5 jiu3 bei2 cin2 bei2 nei5.) – I want to pay you.
2. 出數 (ceot1 sou3) – To Settle the Bill
Example: 請走埋數。(cing2 zau2 maai4 sou3.) – Please settle the bill.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve learned several ways to say “pay” in Chinese. From formal expressions like “付款” (fù kuǎn) to informal phrases like “付钱” (fù qián), you can confidently handle payment situations in China. Remember, politeness and understanding of digital payment methods can enhance your interactions. Even though regional variations exist, Mandarin Chinese remains the primary language used throughout most of China. Enjoy using your new language skills and have a wonderful time exploring Chinese culture!
