Chinese for Ending a Meal: Asking for the Bill and Paying by Card
Learn beginner Mandarin phrases to end a restaurant meal: ask for the bill, ask whether card payment is accepted, and understand common replies about payment methods.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When a meal is finished, you need different language from ordering: you ask for the bill, check the total, and ask how you can pay. In Mandarin, the key phrase is 买单 (mǎidān) or 结账 (jiézhàng), both meaning 'the bill, please' in a restaurant. To ask about payment methods, use 可以刷卡吗？ (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?), literally 'Can [I] swipe a card?' This lesson gives you polite, practical phrases for the end of a meal, plus the replies you are likely to hear.
By the end, you can…
- ask for the bill at the end of a meal.
- ask whether card payment is accepted.
- understand a simple reply about payment methods.
- say thank you and confirm payment politely.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
买单，谢谢。
The bill, please.
mǎidān, xièxie
Common in restaurants, especially in southern China. Say it to a server after you finish eating.
结账，谢谢。
The bill, please. / I'd like to settle the bill.
jiézhàng, xièxie
Also very common and slightly more formal. Useful in restaurants and cafés.
可以刷卡吗？
Can I pay by card?
kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?
Literally 'Can [I] swipe a card?' Use it to ask if card payment is possible.
可以扫码吗？
Can I pay by scanning a code?
kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma?
Asks about mobile payment such as WeChat Pay or Alipay, very common in mainland China.
一共多少钱？
How much is it altogether?
yígòng duōshao qián?
Useful when you want the total before paying.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 可以……吗？ (kěyǐ ... ma?) means 'Can I ...?' or 'Is it possible to ...?' Put an action after 可以 and add 吗 at the end. For payment, say 可以刷卡吗？ (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?) 'Can I pay by card?' or 可以扫码吗？ (kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma?) 'Can I pay by scanning a code?' A common positive reply is 可以 (kěyǐ), 'Yes, that's possible.' A negative reply is 不可以 (bù kěyǐ) or 不行 (bù xíng), 'No, that's not possible.'
When to use it
Use 买单，谢谢。 (mǎidān, xièxie) or 结账，谢谢。 (jiézhàng, xièxie) when you have finished eating and want to pay. If you are not sure about the total, first ask 一共多少钱？ (yígòng duōshao qián?) Then ask 可以刷卡吗？ (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?) If the server says 不可以 (bù kěyǐ), you can ask 可以扫码吗？ (kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma?) or pay in cash. Keep your tone friendly and add 谢谢 (xièxie) to stay polite.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
服务员，买单，谢谢。
Excuse me, the bill, please.fúwùyuán, mǎidān, xièxie好的，一共一百二十块。
Okay, one hundred and twenty yuan altogether.hǎo de, yígòng yìbǎi èrshí kuài可以刷卡吗？
Can I pay by card?kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?可以，请这边刷卡。
Yes, please swipe your card over here.kěyǐ, qǐng zhèbiān shuākǎA little context goes a long way
In mainland China, mobile payment with WeChat Pay or Alipay is extremely common, and many small restaurants may prefer it to cards. 刷卡 (shuākǎ) usually refers to a bank card, while 扫码 (sǎomǎ) means scanning a payment code. In some restaurants, the server brings a card machine to your table; in others, you pay at the counter. Asking 可以刷卡吗？ is polite and normal, but be ready to use 扫码 or cash if the answer is 不可以.
One thing to watch for
Saying 我要买单 (wǒ yào mǎidān) to mean 'I want to pay by card.'
Try this instead: 买单 means 'the bill, please,' not 'pay by card.' To ask about card payment, say 可以刷卡吗？ (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?). For example: 服务员，买单。可以刷卡吗？ (fúwùyuán, mǎidān. kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?) 'Excuse me, the bill, please. Can I pay by card?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You have finished your meal and want the bill. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
买单，谢谢。
This is a natural, polite way to ask for the bill. 结账，谢谢。 is also correct and slightly more formal.
2Ask whether you can pay by card.
Show a sample answer
可以刷卡吗？
This asks if card payment is possible. If you want to ask about mobile payment instead, say 可以扫码吗？
3The server says 不可以 (bù kěyǐ). What is one polite follow-up question?
Show a sample answer
可以扫码吗？
This asks whether you can pay by scanning a code. You could also ask about cash, but 扫码 is very common in mainland China.
To end a meal in Mandarin, say 买单，谢谢。 or 结账，谢谢。 Then ask 可以刷卡吗？ to check card payment. If the answer is no, try 可以扫码吗？ or pay in cash.
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