买单

You can use it as a verb or a standalone request. If you’re at a restaurant, you can catch the waiter’s eye and just say 买单. If you want to be the hero of the night, tell your friends 我来买单 (I’ll pay). It’s very flexible. You don't need fancy grammar here. Just drop it into a sentence where 'paying' is the main action.

Use it whenever money needs to change hands for a service. It’s perfect for restaurants, bars, or cafes. You can also use it figuratively. If someone makes a mistake at work, they might have to 买单 (foot the bill/take responsibility) for the consequences. It’s great for texting too. A quick 'Who is 买单-ing tonight?' in the group chat works perfectly.

Don't use it in very high-end, formal business banquets where 'face' is everything. In those cases, use 结账 (jiézhàng) instead. It sounds a bit more professional and less 'transactional.' Also, don't say it to a street vendor for a 2-yuan snack. It’s usually for places where you sit down and receive a bill at the end. Saying it at a funeral or a very somber event would be quite awkward too!

This phrase actually started in Cantonese-speaking regions like Hong Kong. The original term was 埋单 (màidāan), meaning to 'settle the accounts.' Because it sounded like 买 (to buy), it spread across mainland China as 买单. In Chinese culture, fighting over who gets to 买单 is a national sport. It’s a sign of generosity and respect. If you never offer to 买单, you might find your dinner invitations drying up!

As mentioned, 结账 (jiézhàng) is the more formal cousin. In the north, you might hear 算账 (suànzhàng), though that can also mean 'settling a score' in a fight! If you want to sound very polite to a waiter, add a 'please' and say 麻烦买单 (máfan mǎidān). In the digital age, you’ll often hear people ask 可以扫码买单吗？ which means 'Can I pay by scanning a QR code?'