转账
zhuǎnzhàng
To transfer money in Chinese is 转账 (zhuǎnzhàng).
The term 转账 is the standard way to describe the act of transferring funds between bank accounts via mobile apps, websites or at a bank teller.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 转 (zhuǎn), meaning 'to transfer' or 'to turn' and 账 (zhàng), meaning 'account' or 'ledger'.
Which one should you use?
While 转账 is a standard term for bank transfers, 汇款 (huìkuǎn) is a formal expression specifically referring to remittances or larger transfers. For much more casual situations, you can use the informal phrase 转钱 (zhuǎn qián).
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify the recipient of the money, add the preposition 给 (gěi) after the verb, forming 转账给.
How do you pronounce it?
zhuǎnzhàng
Did you know?
- When people 'transfer money' as a gift during the Lunar New Year, they use a specific term 红包 (hóngbāo), meaning 'red envelope', rather than the technical term 转账.
- If you are transferring money for a group meal or a shared cost, instead of using the formal 转账, people often use the term AA制 (AA zhì). This refers to splitting the bill equally among participants.
- The character 账 (zhàng) in 转账 originally refers to a physical ledger or account book. While modern transfers are entirely digital, the term preserves the historical imagery of moving entries between paper books.
Examples in context
- 我需要转账给我的供应商。I need to transfer money to my supplier.
- 他已经汇款到我的账户了。He has transferred the money to my account.
- 我给你转钱了，请查收。I transferred the money to you, please check it.
- 我给你转账了。I have transferred the money to you.
- 我想给你转账。Wǒ xiǎng gěi nǐ zhuǎnzhàng.I want to transfer money to you.
- 请确认一下转账记录。Qǐng quèrèn yīxià zhuǎnzhàng jìlù.Please check the transfer record.
- 我可以用手机转账吗？Wǒ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī zhuǎnzhàng ma?Can I transfer money using my phone?
Example conversation
Two friends are splitting the cost of a meal.
- 俊杰 Junjie这次由我来买单。Zhè cì yóu wǒ lái mǎidān.I'll pay the bill this time.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那我现在给你转账。Nà wǒ xiànzài gěi nǐ zhuǎnzhàng.Then I will transfer the money to you now.
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，慢慢来。Méi wèntí, mànman lái.No problem, take your time.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好了，钱已经发给你了。Hǎole, qián yǐjīng fā gěi nǐ le.Done, the money has been sent to you.
