Real-Life Chinese Phrase
买单
to pay the bill; check, please
When to use it
Use 买单 when you are ready to pay at a restaurant, cafe, or casual place where a server handles the bill.
Tone and culture
Short and normal. In many places you can say 买单 or 麻烦买单. With friends, 谁买单 can also mean who is paying.
Real examples
- 服务员，买单。 Fúwùyuán, mǎidān. Server, the bill please.
- 麻烦买单。 Máfan mǎidān. Could we pay the bill, please?
- 今天我买单。 Jīntiān wǒ mǎidān. I’ll pay today.
- 我们可以扫码买单吗？ Wǒmen kěyǐ sǎomǎ mǎidān ma? Can we scan a code to pay?
Pronunciation
Use the ChineseGoGo Context Dictionary audio button to hear this phrase and compare it with the examples.
Mini dialogue
顾客麻烦买单。Could we get the bill, please?
店员好的，扫码还是刷卡？Sure. Scan to pay or card?
顾客扫码。Scan to pay.
Common mistakes and close phrases
| 买单 | ask/pay the bill, common in restaurants |
|---|---|
| 付款 | to make payment; more general and formal |
| 结账 | checkout/settle the bill; also common |
Learn it in context
Start from the phrase, then study the scene, save useful expressions, and review them later.