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A2 verb #3,000 most common 5 min read

买单

maidan
At the A1 level, '买单' is a vital survival phrase. You should learn it as a single chunk of meaning: 'I want to pay.' You don't need to worry about the grammar of the two individual characters yet. Just remember that when you are finished eating at a restaurant, you can raise your hand and say '买单' to the waiter. It is one of the first 'real-world' phrases students use to interact with locals. At this level, focus on the pronunciation (mǎidān) and the context (restaurants). You might use it in simple sentences like '我要买单' (I want to pay) or '多少钱？买单。' (How much? Pay the bill.) It is much more natural than saying '我要付钱' in a restaurant setting.
At the A2 level, you begin to see '买单' in slightly more complex sentences. You learn that it is a verb-object construction. You can start using it with '来' (lái) to express your intention to pay for others, which is a key part of Chinese social etiquette: '今天我来买单' (I'll pay today). You also learn the difference between '买单' and '买东西' (buying things). You should be able to understand the phrase in a dialogue where two people are discussing who will pay. You also start to recognize the word in written form on signs or in simple menus. It's important to distinguish it from '结账', which you might see in more formal textbooks.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using '买单' in various social situations. You understand the cultural expectation of '抢着买单' (competing to pay) and can use the phrase to navigate these social waters politely. You also begin to encounter the metaphorical use of '买单' in news articles or intermediate listening materials. For example, '谁为环境污染买单？' (Who pays for environmental pollution?). You understand that here, it doesn't mean literally handing over cash at a counter, but rather bearing the cost or responsibility. You can also use it with resultative complements or in different tenses, such as '我已经买过单了' (I have already paid the bill).
At the B2 level, you use '买单' fluently and understand its idiomatic nuances. you can distinguish between the colloquial '买单', the formal '结账', and the technical '结算'. You are aware of its origins in Cantonese and how that affects its usage in different regions of China. You can use the metaphorical '买单' in debates or essays to discuss responsibility. For example, you might write about how future generations will '买单' for current economic debts. You also understand the social dynamics of '买单'—when it is appropriate to offer, when to insist, and when to accept someone else's offer without losing face.
At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the register and social weight of '买单'. You can analyze the use of the term in literature or high-level journalism to see how it frames issues of accountability. You understand the subtle shift in tone when someone chooses '买单' over '结账' in a business negotiation—it might signal a move toward a more personal, 'guanxi'-based relationship. You can use the term in complex grammatical structures and understand its role in puns or wordplay in Chinese media. You also know related slang and contemporary terms that might be used instead of or alongside '买单' in specific subcultures.
At the C2 level, your mastery of '买单' is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You understand the historical trajectory of the word from a regionalism to a national standard. You can use it with perfect prosody and timing in social situations to manage complex interpersonal relationships. You are capable of using the word in academic or highly technical discussions about economics or law to discuss the 'ultimate payer' or 'liability bearer' in a sophisticated way. You recognize the word in all its forms, including its original Cantonese characters '埋单', and understand the subtle regional preferences across the Sinosphere.
Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

买单 in 30 Seconds

  • Informal phrase for paying the bill in restaurants.
  • Originates from Cantonese but used everywhere in China.
  • Can mean 'taking responsibility' in a metaphorical sense.
  • Essential for social etiquette and daily survival in China.

The term 买单 (mǎidān) is one of the most essential phrases for anyone navigating daily life in a Chinese-speaking environment. At its core, it means 'to pay the bill,' specifically in a restaurant or service-oriented setting. However, its journey from a regional dialect to a national standard is a fascinating look into the evolution of modern Mandarin. Originally derived from the Cantonese word 埋单 (maai4 daan1), which literally means 'to settle the account' or 'bring the items together on a list,' the phrase migrated to mainland China during the economic reforms of the 1980s and 90s. Today, it has largely supplanted more traditional terms in casual conversation.

Literal Meaning
买 (mǎi) means 'to buy' and 单 (dān) means 'bill' or 'list'.
Usage Context
Primarily used in restaurants, cafes, and bars when requesting the final check.
Social Nuance
In Chinese culture, the act of '买单' is often a social ritual involving hospitality and face (面子).

服务员，我们要买单。 (Waiter, we want to pay the bill.)

Beyond the physical act of handing over cash or scanning a QR code, '买单' has taken on a significant metaphorical meaning in modern Chinese. It is frequently used in news headlines and political discourse to mean 'taking responsibility' or 'bearing the cost' of a particular action or policy. For instance, if a company makes a mistake, the consumers might end up '买单' (paying the price) for that error. This dual nature—practical and metaphorical—makes it a high-frequency word across all registers of the language.

别抢了，今天我来买单。 (Don't fight over it; I'm paying the bill today.)

错误已经犯下了，谁来为这个损失买单？ (The mistake has been made; who will pay for this loss?)

Using 买单 is grammatically straightforward, but there are nuances in how it functions as a verb-object (VO) compound. In its most basic form, it acts as an intransitive verb where the 'object' (the bill) is already included in the word itself. You don't usually say '买一个单'; you simply say '买单'.

Direct Request
Used as a standalone phrase to get the waiter's attention: '买单！'
Subject + 为 + Something + 买单
This is the metaphorical structure meaning 'to pay for the consequences of something.'

In a restaurant setting, you will often hear it used with '来' (lái) to indicate intention. For example, '我来买单' (I'll get this). It can also be modified by time or frequency, though this is less common than with other verbs. Interestingly, while '买单' is very common, in very formal restaurants or hotels, staff might use '结账' (jiézhàng) instead, which sounds slightly more professional and less 'street-level'.

他总是找借口不买单。 (He always finds excuses not to pay the bill.)

You will encounter 买单 in three primary environments: the dining table, the business world, and social media commentary. In the dining world, it's the universal signal that the meal is over. Whether you're at a high-end restaurant in Shanghai or a street-side noodle stall in Chengdu, '买单' is understood instantly. In the business world, it often appears in discussions about budgets, subsidies, and economic fallout. You might hear a CEO ask, 'Who is going to pay for this marketing campaign?' using the term '买单'.

在这个项目中，投资者最终为风险买单。 (In this project, investors ultimately paid for the risks.)

On social media and in news commentary, '买单' is a favorite for expressing skepticism about who bears the burden of societal changes. For example, 'Why should the taxpayers pay for the bank's mistakes?' (为什么要纳税人为银行的错误买单？). This usage is very common in editorials and opinion pieces.

The most common mistake learners make is using 买单 in contexts that are too formal or too specific. For instance, you wouldn't use '买单' when paying your monthly rent or electricity bill; for those, you use '交费' (jiāofèi) or '付钱' (fùqián). '买单' is strictly for 'the bill' at a place of service, usually food or entertainment.

Mistake: Using for utilities
Incorrect: 我去买单电费。 Correct: 我去交电费。
Mistake: Using for large purchases
Incorrect: 我买单了一辆车。 Correct: 我买了一辆车。

Another mistake is confusing it with '付钱' (fùqián). While '付钱' is the general act of giving money, '买单' specifically refers to the act of settling the total amount owed at the end of a service. You '付钱' for an apple at a market, but you '买单' at a restaurant.

Understanding the synonyms of 买单 helps you choose the right level of formality. The most direct synonym is 结账 (jiézhàng). While '买单' is colloquial and common in daily life, '结账' is the standard, slightly more formal term used in business accounting and professional service environments.

结账 (jiézhàng)
To settle accounts. Used in hotels, businesses, and formal restaurants.
埋单 (máidān)
The original Cantonese version. In some parts of Southern China, this is still the preferred written and spoken form.
付款 (fùkuǎn)
To make a payment. Very formal, often used in online shopping or bank transfers.

请到前台结账。 (Please go to the front desk to settle the bill.)

How Formal Is It?

Formal

""

Informal

""

Slang

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Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Examples by Level

1

我要买单。

I want to pay the bill.

Subject + Verb

2

服务员，买单！

Waiter, bill please!

Direct address

3

请问，在哪里买单？

Excuse me, where do I pay?

Question with 'where'

4

我们买单吧。

Let's pay the bill.

Suggestion with 'ba'

5

一共多少钱？我要买单。

How much in total? I want to pay.

Basic inquiry

6

这里可以买单吗？

Can I pay here?

Permission question

7

我不买单。

I am not paying.

Negative sentence

8

你去买单吗？

Are you going to pay?

Simple question

1

今天我来买单，下次你请客。

I'll pay today; next time it's your treat.

Use of 'lai' for intention

2

他已经买单了。

He has already paid the bill.

Past action with 'le'

3

我们一起买单吧。

Let's pay together.

Adverb 'together'

4

我想用微信买单。

I want to pay with WeChat.

Instrumental 'yong'

5

谁买单？是你还是我？

Who is paying? You or me?

Alternative question

6

他忘了买单就走了。

He forgot to pay and left.

Sequential actions

7

买单的时候请给我发票。

Please give me a receipt when paying.

Time clause with 'de shihou'

8

这顿饭太贵了，我不想买单。

This meal is too expensive; I don't want to pay.

Reason and result

1

别跟我抢，今天必须我买单。

Don't fight with me; I must pay today.

Imperative 'bie'

2

如果公司倒闭，谁来买单？

If the company goes bankrupt, who will pay the price?

Conditional 'ruguo'

3

他总是喜欢在漂亮女孩面前买单。

He always likes to pay the bill in front of pretty girls.

Prepositional phrase 'zai...mianqian'

4

我们AA制吧，不用你一个人买单。

Let's go Dutch; you don't need to pay for everyone.

Contrastive usage

5

这笔账最后还是得由消费者买单。

This cost will ultimately have to be paid by the consumers.

Passive-like structure with 'you'

6

他大方地为所有人买了单。

He generously paid the bill for everyone.

Adverbial 'de'

7

我买单的时候发现钱包不见了。

I realized my wallet was gone when I was paying.

Complex time clause

8

老板说这次出差的费用由他买单。

The boss said he would cover the expenses for this business trip.

Reported speech

1

政府不应该为银行的投机行为买单。

The government should not pay for the banks' speculative behavior.

Metaphorical usage in politics

2

你犯的错，凭什么要我为你买单？

Why should I pay for the mistake you made?

Rhetorical question 'ping shenme'

3

这种过度消费的行为，早晚要有人买单。

Someone will have to pay for this over-consumption sooner or later.

Time adverb 'zaowan'

4

他买单的动作非常潇洒，一看就是个有钱人。

The way he paid the bill was very stylish; he looks like a rich man.

Noun phrase with 'de dongzuo'

5

在这个看脸的时代，颜值高的人往往有人买单。

In this era of looking at faces, people with high 'visual value' often have others pay for them.

Social commentary

6

虽然他嘴上说要买单，但动作却很慢。

Although he said he would pay, his movements were very slow.

Concessive 'suiran...dan'

7

由于系统故障，餐厅决定为所有客人免单，而不是买单。

Due to a system failure, the restaurant decided to make it 'on the house' for all guests, rather than them paying.

Contrast between 'miandan' and 'maidan'

8

谁来为这场无谓的战争买单？是那些无辜的平民。

Who will pay for this senseless war? It's the innocent civilians.

Rhetorical structure

1

这种短视的政策，最终将由整个社会来买单。

This short-sighted policy will ultimately be paid for by the entire society.

Abstract subject

2

他这种‘只管享受，不愿买单’的态度让人十分反感。

His attitude of 'only enjoying and not wanting to pay' is very repulsive.

Quoted phrase as adjective

3

在商业谈判中，谁先提出买单往往意味着谁占据了主动权。

In business negotiations, whoever offers to pay first often means they hold the initiative.

Complex conditional structure

4

环境破坏的后果，不能只让后代去买单。

The consequences of environmental destruction cannot be left for future generations to pay for.

Negative imperative with 'bu neng'

5

他试图通过买单来化解尴尬的局面，但效果并不理想。

He tried to resolve the awkward situation by paying the bill, but the effect was not ideal.

Instrumental 'tongguo'

6

这种‘慷他人之慨’，让别人买单的行为是非常不道德的。

This behavior of 'being generous at others' expense' and making others pay is very immoral.

Idiomatic expression inclusion

7

市场泡沫破裂后，成千上万的散户为之买单。

After the market bubble burst, thousands of retail investors paid the price.

Resultative 'wei zhi'

8

他习惯了被人簇拥，也习惯了别人为他买单。

He is used to being surrounded by people and used to others paying for him.

Parallel structure with 'xiguan le'

1

在全球化背景下，任何一个国家的经济动荡都可能让全世界买单。

In the context of globalization, economic turmoil in any single country could make the whole world pay the price.

Global context

2

这种权力寻租的行为，本质上是让公共利益为个人私欲买单。

This behavior of rent-seeking is essentially making the public interest pay for personal greed.

Academic/Political terminology

3

历史的债，终究是要有人买单的，逃避不是办法。

The debts of history must be paid eventually; evasion is not the solution.

Philosophical tone

4

他不仅在餐桌上抢着买单，在责任面前也从不退缩。

He not only rushes to pay the bill at the table but also never shrinks from responsibility.

Correlative 'bujin...ye'

5

所谓的‘免费午餐’，其实背后都有人在默默买单。

The so-called 'free lunch' actually has someone quietly paying for it behind the scenes.

Idiomatic irony

6

当道德沦丧成为常态，整个文明都将为此买单。

When moral decay becomes the norm, the entire civilization will pay the price for it.

High-level abstraction

7

他深谙此道，知道什么时候该买单，什么时候该示弱。

He knows the ropes well, knowing when to pay the bill and when to show weakness.

Literary 'shen an ci dao'

8

这不仅是一次简单的买单，更是一次信任的博弈。

This is not just a simple act of paying the bill, but a gamble of trust.

Metaphorical depth

Common Collocations

抢着买单
为错误买单
由谁买单
替人买单
主动买单
拒绝买单
微信买单
现金买单
刷卡买单
不得不买单

Common Phrases

服务员，买单！

今天我买单。

谁来买单？

为自己的行为买单。

让纳税人买单。

抢着买单的人。

没钱买单。

轮到你买单了。

大方买单。

悄悄买单。

Often Confused With

买单 vs 买东西

Buying items vs. paying a service bill.

买单 vs 付钱

General act of paying vs. settling a bill.

买单 vs 交费

Paying utilities/fees vs. restaurant bills.

Idioms & Expressions

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

Easily Confused

买单 vs

买单 vs

买单 vs

买单 vs

买单 vs

Sentence Patterns

Word Family

Related

How to Use It

regional

Popular in mainland China; originates from Cantonese.

metaphorical

Very common in economic and political contexts.

Common Mistakes
  • Saying '买单钱' (redundant).
  • Using '买单' for buying a house.
  • Using it for monthly bills like phone or water.
  • Mispronouncing '单' as 'shàn' (it has two pronunciations).
  • Forgetting the cultural context of who should pay.

Tips

The Bill Fight

Don't be shocked if friends fight over the bill; it's a sign of a good relationship.

Formality

Use '结账' if you want to sound more professional or polite.

QR Codes

Most '买单' is done via Alipay or WeChat now.

VO Compound

Remember you can't put another object after '买单'.

Cantonese Roots

Knowing it comes from Cantonese helps you understand the '单' (list) part.

Metaphor

Use it in business to talk about who bears the costs.

Face

Paying the bill is often about maintaining social standing.

Tone check

The third tone on '买' is often shortened in fast speech.

Characters

Practice writing '单' as it appears in many other words like '简单'.

Digital Pay

The phrase '扫码买单' is extremely common now.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Cantonese '埋单' (maai4 daan1).

Cultural Context

Most '买单' now happens via scanning a QR code on the table.

In the south, you might still see '埋单' written.

Paying the bill is a way to 'give face' to guests.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"服务员，买单，一共多少钱？"

"今天这顿饭我买单，大家都别抢。"

"你觉得我们应该AA制还是一个人买单？"

"谁该为这个错误买单？"

"你上次买单是什么时候？"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you fought for the bill in a Chinese restaurant.

Who should pay for environmental protection?

Do you prefer AA system or one person paying?

Write a dialogue between a waiter and a customer.

Is it important to 'give face' by paying the bill?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Both are correct. '买单' is the standard Mandarin version, while '埋单' is the original Cantonese.

Usually, you use '结账' or just '付钱' in a supermarket.

In a busy restaurant, it's normal. In a quiet, high-end place, a quiet request is better.

It means to suffer the consequences of a mistake.

After eating, when you are ready to leave.

Yes, especially among students and young professionals.

It's better to use '结账' (check out/settle) for hotels.

Say '买单，扫码' (Pay the bill, scan the code).

You can say '这次我来' (This time I'll do it).

It is a verb-object compound, used as a verb.

Test Yourself 180 questions

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