When you're ready to settle up after a meal or a service in China, the most direct and common way to express this is by saying "付账" (fù zhàng). It literally means "to pay the account" or "to pay the bill."
You'll often hear people say "买单" (mǎi dān) as well, which is more common in Southern China, particularly in Cantonese-speaking regions, but it's widely understood everywhere.
While both are perfectly acceptable, "付账" is generally more formal and can be used in a wider range of situations beyond just restaurants, such as paying for services or goods where a bill is presented.
So, next time you're out and about, remember "付账" is your go-to phrase for taking care of the bill.
§ Understanding 付账
You're learning Chinese, and that's great! Today, let's talk about the verb "付账" (fùzhàng). It's a very practical word you'll use often, especially when you're out and about in China. "付账" simply means 'to pay the bill'. It's not complicated, and you'll hear it in many everyday situations.
- DEFINITION
- To pay the bill.
§ At a Restaurant
This is probably the most common place you'll hear and use "付账". After a meal, you need to pay, right? You'll hear staff asking or customers telling staff they want to pay.
服务员，我们想付账。
This translates to: "Waiter, we want to pay the bill." (Fúwùyuán, wǒmen xiǎng fùzhàng.)
请问，在哪里付账？
Meaning: "Excuse me, where do I pay the bill?" (Qǐngwèn, zài nǎlǐ fùzhàng?)
§ At the Store
You might also hear "付账" in a store, though it's less common than "结账" (jiézhàng), which also means 'to settle an account' or 'to check out'. However, "付账" is still perfectly understandable and correct.
我需要去柜台付账。
This means: "I need to go to the counter to pay the bill." (Wǒ xūyào qù guìtái fùzhàng.)
§ In More General Situations
"付账" can be used in other contexts where a bill needs to be paid, even if it's not a restaurant or shop. Think about paying for services or even larger purchases.
他忘记付账了。
This means: "He forgot to pay the bill." (Tā wàngjì fùzhàng le.)
谁来付账？
Meaning: "Who's going to pay the bill?" (Shuí lái fùzhàng?)
§ Key Takeaways
- "付账" (fùzhàng) is a fundamental verb for 'to pay the bill'.
- You'll encounter it most often in restaurants.
- It's versatile enough for other situations where a payment is due.
Keep practicing these phrases, and you'll sound natural when it's time to "付账" in China!
Alright, let's talk about how to say "to pay the bill" in Chinese. The main word you need to know is 付账 (fùzhàng). It's pretty straightforward, but like many things in Chinese, there are a few nuances and alternatives you should be aware of. This section will help you understand when and how to use 付账 correctly and how it compares to other phrases.
§ What is 付账?
- Chinese Word
- 付账 (fùzhàng)
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- To pay the bill; to settle an account.
付账 is a verb. It's used when you need to pay for something, typically after receiving a service or goods. Think of it as settling up at a restaurant, paying for groceries, or handling a medical bill. It's a general term for paying what you owe.
请问，我们怎么付账？ (Qǐngwèn, wǒmen zěnme fùzhàng?)
- Translation Hint
- Excuse me, how do we pay the bill?
他今天忘了付账。 (Tā jīntiān wàngle fùzhàng.)
- Translation Hint
- He forgot to pay the bill today.
§ Similar Words and When to Use Them
While 付账 is very useful, Chinese has other ways to express paying. Here's a breakdown:
-
付钱 (fùqián): This literally means "to pay money." It's a very general term and can be used in almost any situation where money is exchanged. It's broader than 付账 because it doesn't specifically refer to a bill or account.
你可以用手机付钱。 (Nǐ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī fùqián.)
- Translation Hint
- You can pay with your phone.
-
结账 (jiézhàng): This also means "to pay the bill" or "to settle accounts," and it's very similar to 付账. However, 结账 often carries the nuance of completing a transaction or checking out, especially in restaurants or hotels. It implies a finality to the payment, like closing out your tab.
服务员，请结账！ (Fúwùyuán, qǐng jiézhàng!)
- Translation Hint
- Waiter, please bring the bill!
-
买单 (mǎidān): This literally means "to buy the list/bill" and is very common in casual settings, especially restaurants, for asking for or paying the bill. It's often used interchangeably with 结账 in dining situations.
我们准备买单了。 (Wǒmen zhǔnbèi mǎidān le.)
- Translation Hint
- We are ready to pay the bill.
§ When to use 付账
付账 is a solid, reliable choice when you want to express the act of paying an invoice or settling a financial obligation. It's generally appropriate in most situations where a bill is involved, whether formal or informal.
- General use: When simply stating that a bill needs to be paid or was paid.
- Slightly more formal: Can be used in more formal contexts than 买单, but less formal than discussing specific financial transactions like repaying a loan, where other terms would apply.
- Any type of bill: Can refer to restaurant bills, utility bills, hospital bills, etc.
In summary, while 付钱 is the most general way to say "pay money," and 结账 and 买单 are very common for specific scenarios like restaurants, 付账 serves as a versatile and clear way to express "to pay the bill." Practice using these in different situations to get a feel for their nuances.
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
服务员，付账！
Waiter, bill please!
我们该付账了。
We should pay the bill.
他总是抢着付账。
He always rushes to pay the bill.
这次我来付账。
I'll pay the bill this time.
你可以用微信付账。
You can pay the bill with WeChat.
我们还没付账呢。
We haven't paid the bill yet.
吃完饭别忘了付账。
Don't forget to pay the bill after eating.
谁去付账？
Who's going to pay the bill?
请问在哪里付账？
Excuse me, where do I pay the bill?
付账后我们可以走了。
After paying the bill, we can leave.
خودت رو بسنج 30 سوال
我们吃完了，服务员，我要___。
The context implies paying after eating, so '付账' (fùzhàng - pay the bill) or '买单' (mǎidān - pay the bill, more common in spoken Chinese) are appropriate. Here, '付账' is the target word.
请问，在哪里___？
The question asks where to perform the action. '付账' (fùzhàng - pay the bill) makes the most sense in a restaurant or store setting.
吃完饭后，我们去___。
After eating, the next logical step is often to pay the bill. '付账' (fùzhàng - pay the bill) fits this context.
他忘了___，所以又回去了。
If someone forgot something and went back, '付账' (fùzhàng - pay the bill) is a common thing to forget in a transactional setting.
我可以请你吃午饭，但我不能帮你___。
The sentence sets up a contrast: offering lunch but not paying for something else. '付账' (fùzhàng - pay the bill) fits the context of financial responsibility.
服务员，请问我们可以___了吗？
When asking a server if one can 'do' something, and the context is after a meal, '付账' (fùzhàng - pay the bill) is the most natural request.
Which of these means 'to pay the bill'?
付账 (fù zhàng) directly translates to 'to pay the bill'.
You are at a restaurant and want to ask for the bill. Which phrase would you most likely use?
请付账 (Qǐng fù zhàng) is a polite way to ask for the bill.
What is the pinyin for '付账'?
The correct pinyin for 付账 is fù zhàng.
The phrase '付账' (fù zhàng) means 'to eat food'.
No, '付账' means 'to pay the bill'. 'To eat food' is '吃饭' (chī fàn).
If you say '我付账' (Wǒ fù zhàng), you mean 'I will pay the bill'.
Yes, '我付账' means 'I will pay the bill' or 'I pay the bill'.
'付账' (fù zhàng) is commonly used when you are ready to leave a restaurant or store and need to settle the cost.
Yes, '付账' is the correct term to use when you need to pay for something at a restaurant or store.
服务员，请问我们可以在这里___吗？ (Waiter, can we ___ here?)
The context implies asking to pay the bill. '付账' means to pay the bill.
我来___，你今天已经请客了。 (I'll ___, you've already treated today.)
The speaker wants to pay the bill because the other person has already treated them. '付账' is appropriate here.
我们吃完饭就去___吧。 (Let's go ___ after we finish eating.)
After eating, the next logical step is to pay the bill. '付账' fits the context.
他每次都抢着___，真是个好朋友。 (He always rushes to ___, truly a good friend.)
A good friend often offers to pay the bill. '付账' is the correct choice here.
请问在哪里可以___？ (Excuse me, where can I ___?)
This is a common question to ask when you want to pay the bill in a restaurant or store. '付账' is suitable.
我已经___了，我们可以走了。 (I have already ___, we can leave now.)
Once the bill is paid, one can leave. '付账' makes sense in this sentence.
The speaker is calling a waiter to pay the bill.
Someone is treating others and tells them not to pay.
The speaker went out to eat and realized they didn't have their wallet when it was time to pay.
این را بلند بخوانید:
我来付账吧，你今天生日。
تمرکز: 付账 (fùzhàng)
تو گفتی:
تشخیص گفتار در مرورگر شما پشتیبانی نمیشود. از کروم یا اج استفاده کنید.
این را بلند بخوانید:
请问在哪里可以付账？
تمرکز: 在哪里 (zài nǎlǐ)
تو گفتی:
تشخیص گفتار در مرورگر شما پشتیبانی نمیشود. از کروم یا اج استفاده کنید.
این را بلند بخوانید:
我们AA制付账，每人一百。
تمرکز: AA制 (AA zhì)
تو گفتی:
تشخیص گفتار در مرورگر شما پشتیبانی نمیشود. از کروم یا اج استفاده کنید.
Imagine you're at a busy restaurant with friends. You've just finished eating and want to pay the bill. Write a short dialogue (3-4 sentences) where you offer to pay. Use '付账' at least once.
خوب نوشتید! تلاش خوبی بود! پاسخ نمونه را ببینید.
پاسخ نمونه
服务员，您好！我们吃好了，麻烦您付账。我来付吧，大家吃得开心就好。一共多少钱？ (Waiter, hello! We're finished eating, please bring the bill. I'll pay, as long as everyone enjoyed themselves. How much is it in total?)
You are discussing a group dinner with a colleague. You want to suggest that everyone splits the bill. Write a sentence or two using '付账' that conveys this idea.
خوب نوشتید! تلاش خوبی بود! پاسخ نمونه را ببینید.
پاسخ نمونه
这次聚餐，我们不如AA制付账，这样比较公平。 (For this gathering, why don't we split the bill, it's fairer this way.)
Describe a situation where someone was unable to pay their bill. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) explaining what happened, using '付账' at least once.
خوب نوشتید! تلاش خوبی بود! پاسخ نمونه را ببینید.
پاسخ نمونه
昨晚我请朋友吃饭，结果吃完才发现我把钱包忘在家里了。当时真尴尬，差点没办法付账。幸好朋友及时帮我垫付了。 (Last night I treated a friend to dinner, but only after we finished eating did I realize I'd left my wallet at home. It was really embarrassing then, almost couldn't pay the bill. Luckily, my friend paid for me in time.)
根据这段文字，王总为什么坚持付账？
این متن را بخوانید:
在一次商务晚宴上，王总坚持要为所有客人付账，他说这是他作为主人应该做的。尽管客人们礼貌地推辞了几次，但王总最终还是成功地承担了全部费用。他的大方给大家留下了深刻的印象。
根据这段文字，王总为什么坚持付账？
文章中明确提到“他说这是他作为主人应该做的”，表明他坚持付账是出于主人职责的考虑。
文章中明确提到“他说这是他作为主人应该做的”，表明他坚持付账是出于主人职责的考虑。
从这段文字中可以看出，小李的女朋友有什么意图？
این متن را بخوانید:
小李和他的女朋友在一家高档餐厅用餐。当服务员拿着账单走过来时，小李迅速地拿出了信用卡，表示要付账。女朋友看到后，微笑着说：“这次让我来吧。”小李犹豫了一下，但最终还是让她付了。
从这段文字中可以看出，小李的女朋友有什么意图？
女朋友说“这次让我来吧”，表明她想主动承担这次的费用。
女朋友说“这次让我来吧”，表明她想主动承担这次的费用。
根据导游的说明，以下哪项是正确的？
این متن را بخوانید:
旅行团的导游向大家解释说，酒店的早餐费用已经包含在团费里了，所以大家不需要另外付账。但是，如果有人在迷你吧消费了，就需要单独结账。
根据导游的说明，以下哪项是正确的？
导游明确指出“酒店的早餐费用已经包含在团费里了，所以大家不需要另外付账。但是，如果有人在迷你吧消费了，就需要单独结账。”
导游明确指出“酒店的早餐费用已经包含在团费里了，所以大家不需要另外付账。但是，如果有人在迷你吧消费了，就需要单独结账。”
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نمره کامل!
مثال
我们可以付账了吗？
محتوای مرتبط
واژههای بیشتر food
一两
B1Fifty grams; a Chinese unit of weight (approx. 50g).
一斤
B1Half a kilogram; a Chinese unit of weight (approx. 500g).
一袋
B1A bag of.
少一点儿
A2A bit less.
多一点儿
A2A bit more.
一口
B1A mouthful; a bite; a small amount (of food or drink).
一瓶
B1A bottle of.
一碗
B1Measure word for a bowl of food.
一盒
B1A box of.
一杯
B1Measure word for a cup of liquid.
