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A2 verb 8 min read

交费

Q: How do I ask where the cashier is?

Ask '请问交费处在哪里？'

jiāo fèi

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 交费 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 交费 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that '交费' means 'to pay money for a service'. You will most likely hear this at a hospital or a school office. It is often used as a command: '请交费' (Please pay). You should recognize the character '交' (hand over) and '费' (fee). At this stage, focus on the fact that you use this word for bills and official things, rather than for buying an apple or a shirt. Just remember: if there is a window with a sign, and you need to give money there, it is probably '交费'.

At the A2 level, you should be able to use '交费' in simple sentences with time and location. For example, '我明天去交学费' (I will go pay tuition tomorrow). You should also understand that '交费' is a verb-object structure. You can say '交电费' (pay electricity fee) or '交水费' (pay water fee). You are expected to know how to ask where to pay: '在哪里交费？' (Where do I pay?). You should also start to notice the difference between '交费' and '买东西' (buying things).

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using '交费' as a separable verb. This means you can say '交了费' (paid the fee) or '交过费' (have paid the fee). You should be able to discuss payment methods: '你可以用手机交费' (You can pay via phone). You should also recognize related terms like '交费处' (payment office) and '网上交费' (online payment). You can explain why you are paying: '为了参加考试，我必须交费' (In order to take the exam, I must pay the fee).

At the B2 level, you should understand the nuance between '交费' and '缴费'. You should be able to handle complex administrative situations, such as asking about deadlines ('交费截止日期') or late fees ('滞纳金'). You can use the word in formal emails or written requests. You should also be familiar with social security payments like '交社保'. You can use the word in passive structures or with '把' sentences: '我已经把费交了' (I have already paid the fee).

At the C1 level, you should understand the economic and legal implications of '交费'. You can discuss topics like '乱收费' (illegal/arbitrary charging of fees) or '减免费用' (fee waivers/reductions). You should be able to use the word in professional contexts, such as discussing corporate service fees or government fiscal policies. You understand the historical evolution of the word and can use it metaphorically if needed, though it is usually literal. You can distinguish between '交费' and '纳税' (paying taxes) precisely.

At the C2 level, you have a native-like command of '交费'. You understand its place within the broader Chinese bureaucratic vocabulary. You can use it in academic writing about public finance or service management. You are aware of regional variations and can identify when someone is using the term ironically or in a very specific legal sense. You can effortlessly switch between '交', '缴', and '缴纳' depending on the audience and the formality of the situation.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

交费 in 30 Seconds

交费 means 'to pay a fee' for services like utilities or tuition.
It is a separable verb, so you can say '交了费' or '交学费'.
Commonly used in hospitals, schools, and for monthly utility bills.
More formal than '付钱' and usually implies an institutional context.

The Chinese term 交费 (jiāofèi) is a fundamental verb-object compound that every learner must master early on. At its core, it means 'to pay a fee' or 'to hand over a payment' for a specific service, administrative requirement, or utility. Unlike the general word for buying things (买 mǎi), 交费 specifically implies a transaction where you are fulfilling an obligation or paying for a non-tangible service rather than purchasing a physical product in a shop. It consists of two characters: 交 (jiāo), meaning to hand over, submit, or exchange, and 费 (fèi), which refers to fees, expenses, or costs.

Administrative Context: In daily life in China, you will encounter this word at the hospital before seeing a doctor, at a school for tuition, or at a government office for processing documents. It is the standard term for 'settling the bill' in institutional settings.

请到一号窗口交费。 (Please go to window number one to pay the fee.)

In the modern era, the physical act of 'handing over' money has shifted to digital platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay. However, the linguistic structure remains the same. You might see a QR code with the label '扫码交费' (Scan code to pay fee). This transition highlights the word's versatility; it applies to cash, card, and digital transfers. Understanding 交费 is crucial for navigating any bureaucratic or service-oriented environment in a Chinese-speaking country.

Utility Payments: This word is the standard for recurring costs like '电费' (electricity bill), '水费' (water bill), and '物业费' (property management fee). Residents often say they need to '去交费' (go pay the fees) at the start of the month.

我还没交费，所以停水了。 (I haven't paid the fee yet, so the water was cut off.)

Culturally, the concept of 交费 reflects a structured society where services are systematically accounted for. Whether it is a membership fee for a gym or a registration fee for an exam, the word carries a sense of formality. It is rarely used in casual peer-to-peer transactions (like splitting a dinner bill, where '买单' or '付钱' is preferred) unless the context is specifically about a formal dues payment.

Education and Training: For students, '交学费' (paying tuition) is a major milestone each semester. It implies the formalization of one's status in the academic institution.

Using 交费 correctly requires understanding its grammatical structure as a 'separable verb' (离合词 líhécí). This means that while it functions as a single verb meaning 'to pay a fee,' the two characters can be separated by other words to change the meaning or provide more detail about the action.

Separable Structure: You can insert aspects markers like '了' (le) or '过' (guò) between '交' and '费'. For example, '交了费' means 'paid the fee' (completed action). You can also insert the specific type of fee: '交学费' (pay tuition fee).

你交过费了吗？ (Have you paid the fee before?)

When using 交费 in a sentence, it often acts as the main predicate. If you want to specify where you are paying, the location usually comes before the verb: '在银行交费' (pay the fee at the bank). If you want to specify how you are paying, the method also precedes the verb: '用手机交费' (pay the fee using a phone).

Common Sentence Patterns: Subject + Time + Location + Method + 交费. Example: 我明天在网上交学费 (I will pay the tuition online tomorrow).

由于系统维护，现在不能交费。 (Due to system maintenance, you cannot pay fees right now.)

It is important to note that '交费' itself is intransitive in many contexts because '费' is already the object. You cannot say '交费学费'. Instead, you replace '费' with the specific fee: '交学费'. Alternatively, you can use the structure '交……的费' for emphasis, though this is less common.

Negative Forms: Use '没' (méi) for past actions: '我还没交费' (I haven't paid yet). Use '不' (bù) for habitual or future actions: '他不交费就不能参加' (If he doesn't pay the fee, he can't participate).

别忘了去物业交费。 (Don't forget to go to the property office to pay the fees.)

In a typical day in China, 交费 is everywhere. If you are a student, you'll hear it at the start of the semester. If you are a driver, you'll hear it at toll booths or parking garages. If you are a resident, you'll hear it from your building manager. It is a word that signals the intersection of private life and public services.

At the Hospital (医院): This is perhaps the most common place to hear the word. In the Chinese medical system, you often pay after each step: pay for the registration, pay for the tests, pay for the medicine. The phrase '先去交费' (go pay first) is a constant refrain from nurses and doctors.

拿好单子，去那边交费。 (Take the slip and go over there to pay.)

On public transportation or toll roads, you might see signs for '人工交费' (manual payment) vs. '自动交费' (automatic payment). At a parking lot, the exit gate might display the message '请交费' (Please pay) along with the amount due. These are high-frequency environmental cues that help you navigate urban spaces.

Digital Apps (手机软件): When using apps like Alipay (支付宝) or WeChat (微信), there is often a section specifically titled '生活缴费' (Living Expenses/Utility Payments). While it uses '缴' (a more formal synonym), people colloquially refer to this action as '网上交费'.

你可以通过微信交费，非常方便。 (You can pay the fee via WeChat; it's very convenient.)

In a work environment, an HR representative might tell you about '交社保' (paying social security) or '交公积金' (paying housing fund). Although '费' isn't explicitly at the end of these terms, the '交' implies the same act of handing over a required payment to an authority.

Even though 交费 seems simple, English speakers often trip up on its usage due to direct translation errors or misunderstanding its grammar. One of the most common mistakes is treating it as a standard transitive verb that can take a direct object without modification.

The 'Double Object' Error: Mistake: '我要交费学费' (I want to pay fee tuition). Correction: '我要交学费'. Since '费' is already an object, you cannot put another object after it. You must replace '费' with the specific noun.

错误：交费房租。正确：交房租。 (Wrong: Pay fee rent. Right: Pay rent.)

Another error is confusing 交费 with 买 (buy). You 'buy' a book, but you 'pay a fee' for a library card. If you use '交费' to buy a coffee, it sounds very strange, as if the coffee is an administrative fee rather than a product. Use '买咖啡' or '付钱' instead.

Confusion with '付钱' (fù qián): While '付钱' is general, '交费' is specific. If you are at a supermarket, you '付钱'. If you are at the police station paying a fine or a fee for a new ID, you '交费'. Using '付钱' in formal settings isn't wrong, but it sounds less educated.

在餐厅，我们通常说“买单”，不说“交费”。 (In restaurants, we usually say 'pay the bill', not 'pay the fee'.)

Lastly, learners often forget that '交费' is a separable verb. They might say '交费了' (which is fine), but they struggle when adding a duration or frequency. Saying '交费了两次' is okay, but '交了两次费' is more natural and follows the standard grammar for separable verbs.

To truly master the vocabulary of payment in Chinese, you must distinguish 交费 from its synonyms. Each word has a specific 'register' (formality level) and 'domain' (context of use). Understanding these nuances will make your Chinese sound much more native.

缴费 (jiǎofèi) vs. 交费 (jiāofèi): These two are almost identical in meaning. However, '缴费' is more formal and is the preferred term in written legal documents, official government notices, and banking apps. '交费' is more common in daily speech.

政府通知上写着“请按时缴纳税款”。 (The government notice says 'Please pay taxes on time'.)

Other alternatives include 付款 (fùkuǎn), which is commonly used in e-commerce (like clicking a 'Pay Now' button on Taobao), and 买单 (mǎidān), which is strictly for restaurants or bars. If you are 'paying back' a friend, you would use 还钱 (huán qián).

Comparison Table

交费: Services, utilities, administration (Neutral).
缴费: Official duties, taxes, fines (Formal).
付款: Business transactions, online shopping (Neutral/Business).
买单: Restaurant bills (Informal).
消费: General consumption/spending (Economic context).

我们是去交费，不是去购物。 (We are going to pay a fee, not to go shopping.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient China, '费' often referred to the expenses of a city or a large household. Today, it's used for everything from a 1-cent digital fee to million-dollar tuition.

Pronunciation Guide

UK jiāo fèi

US jiāo fèi

Both syllables are stressed, with a slight emphasis on the falling fourth tone of 'fèi'.

Rhymes With

娇 (jiāo) 椒 (jiāo) 浇 (jiāo) 背 (bèi) 睡 (shuì) 对 (duì) 贵 (guì) 泪 (lèi)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'fèi' with a second tone (féi) which sounds like 'fat'.
Confusing the 'j' in 'jiao' with a 'zh' sound.
Not giving enough force to the fourth tone in 'fei'.
Mixing up 'jiao' (1st tone) with 'jiao' (3rd tone - to teach).
Saying 'jiao' as 'jao' without the 'i' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Characters are relatively simple and common.

Writing 3/5

The character '费' has many strokes and requires practice.

Speaking 1/5

Pronunciation is straightforward pinyin.

Listening 2/5

Very common in public announcements.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

钱去这多少给

Learn Next

发票收据银行账户办理

Advanced

缴纳财政支出预算亏损

Grammar to Know

Separable Verbs (离合词)

交了费, 交过费, 交两次费

Resultative Complements

交清了费 (Paid off the fee)

Prepositional Phrases with '在'

在窗口交费

The 'Ba' Construction

把费交了

Time When vs. Duration

三点交费 vs. 交了三年的费

Examples by Level

请交费。

Please pay the fee.

Simple imperative sentence.

我要交费。

I want to pay the fee.

Subject + Want + Verb.

在这里交费吗？

Do I pay the fee here?

Asking for location.

交多少费？

How much is the fee?

Asking for amount.

他没交费。

He didn't pay the fee.

Negative past tense with '没'.

你去交费吧。

You go pay the fee.

Imperative with particle '吧'.

交费了吗？

Did you pay the fee?

Question with aspect marker '了'.

在这里交钱。

Pay money here.

Colloquial version of '交费'.

我明天去交学费。

I am going to pay tuition tomorrow.

Time + Verb + Specific Fee.

你可以在网上交费。

You can pay the fee online.

Location '网上' precedes the verb.

交费处在那边。

The payment office is over there.

Noun compound '交费处'.

我需要交电费。

I need to pay the electricity bill.

Replacing '费' with a specific noun.

每个人都要交费。

Everyone has to pay the fee.

Universal subject '每个人'.

一共要交多少费？

How much fee in total?

Using '一共' for total.

请先交费，再看病。

Please pay first, then see the doctor.

Sequential actions with '先...再'.

你交了费吗？

Did you pay the fee?

Separable verb with '了'.

我已经交了三年的费。

I have already paid three years of fees.

Duration inserted into separable verb.

如果不交费，就不能参加比赛。

If you don't pay the fee, you can't participate in the competition.

Conditional structure '如果...就'.

你可以用支付宝交费。

You can pay the fee using Alipay.

Instrumental '用' + Method.

交费的截止日期是本周五。

The deadline for payment is this Friday.

Noun phrase with '的'.

我忘了交物业费，所以没电了。

I forgot to pay the property fee, so there's no electricity.

Cause and effect.

他帮我交了这笔费。

He helped me pay this fee.

Helper verb '帮'.

交费的时候需要带身份证吗？

Do I need to bring my ID when paying the fee?

Time clause with '的时候'.

系统显示你还没交过费。

The system shows you haven't paid the fee before.

Experience marker '过'.

因为逾期交费，他被罚款了。

Because of late payment, he was fined.

Passive voice '被'.

该公司支持多种形式的交费。

The company supports multiple forms of payment.

Formal verb '支持'.

请把费交到财务部。

Please pay the fee to the finance department.

'把' construction.

交费记录可以在官网上查询。

Payment records can be checked on the official website.

Compound noun '交费记录'.

他不仅交了费，还捐了款。

He not only paid the fee but also made a donation.

Correlative '不仅...还'.

为了方便市民，政府增加了交费点。

To benefit citizens, the government added payment points.

Purpose clause '为了'.

交费后请务必保留收据。

Please be sure to keep the receipt after paying.

Adverb '务必' (must).

目前，交费流程已经简化了。

Currently, the payment process has been simplified.

Completed change '已经...了'.

部分低收入家庭可以申请减免交费。

Some low-income families can apply for fee waivers.

Formal term '减免'.

擅自提高交费标准是违法的。

It is illegal to raise payment standards without authorization.

Subject is a whole clause.

交费金额应与合同规定相符。

The payment amount should match the contract provisions.

Formal preposition '与'.

通过网上银行交费能有效避免排队。

Paying via online banking can effectively avoid queuing.

Adverb '有效' (effectively).

逾期未交费者将面临停机风险。

Those who fail to pay on time will face the risk of service suspension.

Formal suffix '者' (the person who).

交费制度的改革引起了广泛关注。

The reform of the payment system has attracted widespread attention.

Passive '引起'.

由于财务疏忽，他重复交费了。

Due to financial oversight, he paid the fee twice.

Adverb '重复' (repeatedly).

该项交费旨在支持公共设施建设。

This fee is intended to support the construction of public facilities.

Formal verb '旨在' (aimed at).

交费义务是公民参与社会管理的基础。

The obligation to pay fees is the basis for citizens' participation in social management.

Abstract noun '义务'.

任何单位不得强制要求额外交费。

No unit may force additional payments.

Legal negative '不得'.

交费环节的透明度直接关系到政府公信力。

The transparency of the payment process is directly related to government credibility.

Complex relationship '关系到'.

探讨交费行为背后的心理动机具有重要意义。

Exploring the psychological motivations behind payment behavior is of great significance.

Academic structure.

针对乱交费现象，有关部门展开了专项整治。

In response to the phenomenon of arbitrary fee collection, relevant departments launched a special rectification campaign.

Preposition '针对'.

交费凭证是解决后续纠纷的关键证据。

The payment voucher is key evidence for resolving subsequent disputes.

Legal terminology '凭证', '纠纷'.

这种变相交费行为严重损害了消费者利益。

This disguised fee-paying behavior seriously harms consumer interests.

Idiomatic '变相' (disguised).

完善交费系统是提升城市智能化水平的重要一环。

Improving the payment system is an important part of enhancing the city's intelligence level.

Metaphorical '一环'.

Common Collocations

交学费

交电费

交水费

交物业费

交网费

交报名费

交停车费

交社保

交押金

在线交费

Common Phrases

交费处

— The specific counter or window where payments are made.

请问交费处在哪？

交费单

— The physical or digital slip indicating how much is due.

这是你的交费单。

自动交费

— A system where payments are deducted automatically.

我设置了自动交费。

逾期交费

— Paying a fee after the official deadline.

逾期交费会有罚款。

重复交费

— Paying the same fee twice by mistake.

我不小心重复交费了。

按时交费

— Paying on time according to the schedule.

请大家按时交费。

免交费

— Being exempt from paying a specific fee.

老人可以免交费。

交费凭证

— Proof of payment, like a receipt or transaction ID.

请保留好交费凭证。

窗口交费

— Paying in person at a service window.

这里不支持窗口交费。

扫码交费

— Paying by scanning a QR code.

扫码交费，快捷安全。

Often Confused With

交费 vs 消费

Means 'to consume/spend' in a general sense, not paying a specific bill.

交费 vs 付费

Often refers to the status of a service (e.g., a paid app) rather than the act of paying a bill.

交费 vs 买单

Only used for restaurant bills, never for electricity or tuition.

Idioms & Expressions

"交学费"

— Metaphorically, to lose money or make a mistake while learning something new.

刚炒股亏了钱，就当是交学费了。

Informal

"天下没有免费的午餐"

— There is no such thing as a free lunch; everything has a price.

别相信他的话，天下没有免费的午餐。

Neutral

"一分钱一分货"

— You get what you pay for.

贵点没关系，一分钱一分货。

Neutral

"坐吃山空"

— To consume one's wealth without earning more (related to spending/fees).

如果不工作，只会坐吃山空。

Literary

"大手大脚"

— To spend money wastefully.

他花钱大手大脚的。

Informal

"入不敷出"

— Income does not cover expenses.

他最近入不敷出，生活困难。

Formal

"斤斤计较"

— To haggle over every penny or small fee.

为了这点小费，没必要斤斤计较。

Negative

"挥金如土"

— To spend money like dirt (very extravagantly).

那个富二代挥金如土。

Literary

"节衣缩食"

— To live frugally to save money for fees or living.

为了供孩子上学，他们节衣缩食。

Commendatory

"量入为出"

— Spend according to one's income.

理财的第一步是量入为出。

Formal

Easily Confused

交费 vs 缴纳

Similar meaning.

缴纳 is much more formal and used for taxes or large legal sums.

缴纳个人所得税。

交费 vs 付款

Both mean 'pay'.

付款 is used for buying products or online shopping; 交费 is for services/fees.

请确认付款金额。

交费 vs 支出

Both relate to spending.

支出 is a noun/verb for 'expenditure' in accounting.

每月的支出很高。

交费 vs 费力

Contains '费'.

Means 'strenuous' or 'requiring effort', nothing to do with money.

这件事很费力。

交费 vs 免费

Contains '费'.

Means 'free of charge'.

这里免费提供水。

Sentence Patterns

请 + 交费

请交费。

去 + Place + 交费

去银行交费。

交 + [Noun] + 费

交水费。

用 + [Method] + 交费

用支付宝交费。

交了 + [Duration] + 的费

交了一年的费。

把 + 费 + 交了

把学费交了。

由于...未交费

由于逾期未交费，服务已停止。

针对...乱交费

针对学校乱交费现象，政府进行了调查。

Word Family

Nouns

费用 (fèiyòng) - cost/expense

费率 (fèilǜ) - rate

费力 (fèilì) - effort

Verbs

花费 (huāfèi) - to spend

浪费 (làngfèi) - to waste

消费 (xiāofèi) - to consume

Adjectives

费钱 (fèiqián) - costly

费事 (fèishì) - troublesome

钱 (qián)

卡 (kǎ)

银行 (yínháng)

收据 (shōujù)

发票 (fāpiào)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily urban life.

Common Mistakes

交费房租 → 交房租
You cannot have two objects. Replace '费' with '房租'.
付交费 → 交费 / 付钱
Don't combine '付' and '交费'. They are different verbs.
我交费了三点 → 我三点交费了
Time when an action happens must come before the verb.
交费咖啡 → 买咖啡
Coffee is a product, not a fee. Use '买'.
他在交费处买单 → 他在交费处交费
'买单' is specifically for restaurants.

Tips

Separable Verb Rule

Always remember that '费' is the object. Don't put another object after it. Change '交费' to '交 + [Type]费'.

Use Apps

Most people in China pay fees via Alipay or WeChat. Look for the 'Living Expenses' (生活缴费) icon.

Tone Accuracy

The fourth tone on 'fèi' is sharp. If you say it with a flat tone, people might not understand.

Specific Fees

Learn the specific prefixes: 水 (water), 电 (electricity), 网 (internet), 学 (school).

Public Places

In hospitals, listen for '先交费' (pay first). It's the most common instruction.

Character '费'

The bottom part is '贝' (shell). In ancient China, shells were used as money.

Business Context

In a company, use '报销' (bàoxiāo) if you want to get reimbursed for a '交费' you made.

Parking

In malls, you often need to '交费' at a machine before returning to your car.

Helping Friends

To say 'I'll pay for you', say '我帮你交费'.

Late Fees

Ask about '滞纳金' (zhìnàjīn) if you are '逾期交费' (paying late).

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Jiao (交) looks like a person handing something over. Fei (费) has the 'shell' (贝) radical at the bottom, which always means money. So, hand over the money!

Visual Association

Imagine a hospital counter where a patient hands over a bill (交) and the cashier takes their money (费).

Word Web

Hospital School Electricity Water Internet Phone Bank Receipt

Challenge

Try to find three signs in a Chinese neighborhood that use the character '费'. Usually, you will find them near parking lots or apartment offices.

Word Origin

The character '交' (jiāo) originally depicted a person with legs crossed, implying interaction or exchange. The character '费' (fèi) combines '贝' (shell/money) and '弗' (a phonetic element or 'not'), originally referring to the consumption of wealth.

Original meaning: To hand over currency for the use of services.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Be polite to the '交费' staff; they are often the gatekeepers to the service you need.

In the West, we often say 'pay the bill'. In China, 'bill' (账单) is the paper, but the action is '交费'.

Used in countless public service announcements. Commonly seen in the movie 'To Live' regarding hospital scenes. Frequent topic in 'Xiangsheng' (crosstalk) comedy about bureaucracy.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Hospital

挂号费
药费
检查费
交费处在哪？

School

学费
杂费
书本费
交学费了吗？

Home

电费
水费
燃气费
物业费

Transportation

停车费
过路费
加油费
高速交费

Internet/Phone

话费
网费
充值
欠费停机

Conversation Starters

"你交了这个月的房租了吗？"

"请问这里可以交停车费吗？"

"我想问一下，学费是多少？"

"我的手机没信号了，是不是欠费了？"

"你可以教我怎么在手机上交电费吗？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你在中国医院交费的经历。

你觉得现在网上交费方便吗？为什么？

如果一个城市所有的公共交通都免交费，会发生什么？

写一段话，提醒你的室友记得交水费和电费。

比较一下你家乡的交费方式和中国的交费方式。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, that is redundant. '费' already means 'fee/money for something'. Just say '交费' or '交钱'.

They are the same, but '缴费' is more formal and used in writing/apps.

Yes. You can say '交了费' or '交两次费'.

Replace '费' with '学费' and say '交学费'.

No, use '付钱' or '买单' (though '买单' is mostly for restaurants).

Ask '请问交费处在哪里？'

It means you have an outstanding balance or haven't paid your bill.

Usually '纳税' or '交税' is used for taxes, but '交费' can be used for small administrative fees related to taxes.

No. You should say '我交了话费' (I paid my phone bill).

扫码交费 (sǎo mǎ jiāo fèi).