可以刷卡吗？
ke yi shua ka ma?
Can I pay by card?
حرفيًا: Can [I] swipe card [question particle]?
في 15 ثانية
- Use this to ask if credit or debit cards are accepted.
- Perfect for malls, hotels, and large restaurants in China.
- The word 'shua' literally means 'to swipe' or 'to brush'.
المعنى
This is your go-to phrase for asking if a shop or restaurant accepts credit or debit cards. It literally asks if you can 'swipe' your card to pay for your purchase.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6At a high-end clothing store
请问，这里可以刷卡吗？
Excuse me, can I pay by card here?
Checking out of a hotel
我想退房，可以刷卡吗？
I want to check out, can I pay by card?
At a small family-run noodle shop
老板，可以刷卡吗？
Boss, can I pay by card?
خلفية ثقافية
While credit cards were once a status symbol in China, the country rapidly transitioned to a cashless society via mobile apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay. Today, 'swiping a card' is often reserved for large transactions or international visitors, making this phrase a vital bridge between traditional banking and modern commerce.
The QR Code King
In China, scanning a QR code (`扫码` sǎo mǎ) is 10x more common than swiping a card. If they say no to cards, ask for the code!
Foreign Card Troubles
Even if they accept cards, some machines only take 'UnionPay'. Always check if they have the Visa or Mastercard logo first.
في 15 ثانية
- Use this to ask if credit or debit cards are accepted.
- Perfect for malls, hotels, and large restaurants in China.
- The word 'shua' literally means 'to swipe' or 'to brush'.
What It Means
可以刷卡吗？ is the most common way to ask about card payments in China. The word 刷 (shuā) means to brush or swipe. The word 卡 (kǎ) is a loanword for card. Together, they describe the physical action of swiping a magnetic stripe. Even though we use chips and tap-to-pay now, the 'swipe' terminology stuck. It is simple, direct, and understood everywhere.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when you reach the checkout counter. You can say it as a standalone question. If you want to be extra polite, add 请问 (qǐngwèn) at the beginning. This translates to 'May I ask.' It is a survival phrase for any traveler. You do not need complex grammar to make this work. Just point to your card and say the magic words.
When To Use It
Use it at big shopping malls, hotels, and high-end restaurants. It is perfect for western chains like Starbucks or Nike. You should also use it at tourist attractions or airports. If you are at a supermarket, they will definitely expect this question. It is a very standard, neutral way to communicate your payment preference.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this at small street food stalls. Most tiny vendors only use mobile apps like WeChat or Alipay. If you are at a local wet market, a card is useless. Avoid using it in taxis unless they have a visible card reader. In these cases, cash or mobile pay is king. Asking to 'swipe' at a fruit stand might get you a confused look.
Cultural Background
China skipped the 'credit card era' and went straight to mobile payments. Because of this, 可以刷卡吗？ is becoming a bit of a vintage phrase. Most locals use QR codes for everything now. However, international hotels and luxury brands still rely heavily on card machines. Interestingly, 'swiping' has a slang meaning too. 刷脸 (shuā liǎn) means 'swiping your face' for facial recognition payments!
Common Variations
You might hear 能刷卡吗？ (néng shuā kǎ ma), which is almost identical. If you want to ask about specific cards, say 可以刷信用卡吗？ for credit cards. If you are tech-savvy, you will likely ask 可以扫码吗？ (kěyǐ sǎo mǎ ma). This means 'Can I scan the QR code?' That is the true modern equivalent of this phrase.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This phrase is safe to use in almost any commercial setting. It is polite enough for strangers but simple enough for quick transactions. Just be aware that in modern China, mobile payment is often the default, so don't be surprised if the answer is 'no'.
The QR Code King
In China, scanning a QR code (`扫码` sǎo mǎ) is 10x more common than swiping a card. If they say no to cards, ask for the code!
Foreign Card Troubles
Even if they accept cards, some machines only take 'UnionPay'. Always check if they have the Visa or Mastercard logo first.
The 'Swipe' Slang
If someone says they are going to `刷我的卡` (swipe my card), they are offering to treat you! It's a very generous gesture.
أمثلة
6请问，这里可以刷卡吗？
Excuse me, can I pay by card here?
Adding 'qǐngwèn' makes the request much more polite for retail staff.
我想退房，可以刷卡吗？
I want to check out, can I pay by card?
Standard procedure for hotels which always accept international cards.
老板，可以刷卡吗？
Boss, can I pay by card?
The 'Boss' might say no and point to a QR code instead.
那个餐厅太贵了，能刷卡吗？
That restaurant is so expensive, can we pay by card?
Using 'néng' instead of 'kěyǐ' is very common in casual chat.
我没带现金，救命！可以刷卡吗？
I didn't bring cash, help! Can I pay by card?
A relatable 'emergency' situation for travelers.
费用很高，我可以刷卡吗？
The fee is high, may I pay by card?
Used in serious situations involving large sums of money.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the question to ask if you can pay by card.
请问，我___刷卡吗？
'可以' (kěyǐ) means 'can' or 'may', which is necessary to form the permission-seeking question.
Identify the object you are 'swiping'.
可以刷___吗？
'卡' (kǎ) means card. '书' is book and '水' is water.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Can I pay by card?'
Short and direct with friends.
能刷卡吗？
Standard way to ask a clerk.
可以刷卡吗？
Polite inquiry in a business setting.
请问，这里可以刷卡吗？
Where to use 'Kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?'
Department Store
Buying luxury goods
Airport Duty Free
Last minute souvenirs
Western Restaurant
Dinner at a steakhouse
Hotel Front Desk
Paying for your stay
بنك التمارين
2 تمارين请问，我___刷卡吗？
'可以' (kěyǐ) means 'can' or 'may', which is necessary to form the permission-seeking question.
可以刷___吗？
'卡' (kǎ) means card. '书' is book and '水' is water.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةIt means 'to brush' or 'to swipe'. Think of it as the motion of cleaning something with a brush or sliding a card through a reader.
Yes! In Chinese, 卡 (kǎ) covers both credit and debit cards. The phrase is universal for any plastic payment.
Not at all. It is perfectly neutral. You can use it in a fancy hotel or a casual coffee shop like Starbucks.
They will usually say 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) or 只能用支付宝 (zhǐ néng yòng zhīfùbǎo), meaning 'only Alipay'.
You can say 我可以刷卡吗？ but it's more natural to drop the 'I'. Chinese often omits the subject when it's obvious.
Yes, you can just say 刷卡？ with a rising question tone while holding your card up. It's very informal but effective.
You can say 可以刷 Visa 吗？. Most staff in big cities will recognize the brand name 'Visa' or 'Mastercard'.
Forgetting the question particle 吗 (ma). Without it, you are just stating 'Can swipe card,' which sounds like a command.
It's becoming rarer for locals, who prefer mobile pay. However, for tourists, this phrase remains a vital backup.
Absolutely. It is the standard phrase for card payments across all Mandarin-speaking regions.
عبارات ذات صلة
付钱
To pay money
扫码
To scan a QR code
现金
Cash
信用卡
Credit card
