Using an ATM in Mandarin: Withdraw Cash and Ask About Fees
Learn elementary Mandarin to use an ATM in China: ask whether it accepts foreign cards, choose cash withdrawal, enter your PIN, and ask about fees using clear, polite phrases.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
In this lesson you will learn the exact Mandarin you need at an ATM in China. You will ask whether a machine accepts foreign cards, say you want to withdraw cash, follow the on-screen prompts, and ask about the fee. The focus is cash withdrawal only, so you can complete the task without extra vocabulary. All phrases use simplified Chinese and pinyin with tone marks. Speak slowly at first, and point to your card or the screen when needed. If staff reply too quickly, you can say qǐng màn yīdiǎn (please speak more slowly).
By the end, you can…
- ask whether an ATM accepts foreign cards.
- say I want to withdraw cash and understand the main ATM prompts.
- ask how much the fee is and whether it is charged per transaction.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
这台取款机可以用外国卡吗？
Can this ATM use foreign cards?
zhè tái qǔkuǎnjī kěyǐ yòng wàiguó kǎ ma?
Use at the machine or when asking a nearby staff member. 取款机 (qǔkuǎnjī) means ATM; 外国卡 (wàiguó kǎ) means foreign card. 台 (tái) is the classifier for machines.
我想取现金。
I want to withdraw cash.
wǒ xiǎng qǔ xiànjīn.
Say this to staff if you need help. 取 (qǔ) means withdraw; 现金 (xiànjīn) means cash.
请插卡。
Please insert your card.
qǐng chā kǎ.
A common on-screen prompt. 插 (chā) means insert; 卡 (kǎ) means card.
请输入密码。
Please enter your PIN.
qǐng shūrù mìmǎ.
You will see this after inserting your card. 密码 (mìmǎ) means password or PIN.
手续费是多少？
How much is the fee?
shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?
Use this to ask about the service fee. 手续费 (shǒuxùfèi) means service fee or handling fee.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask whether something is allowed or possible, use 可以……吗？ (kěyǐ ... ma?). Put the action after 可以. For example, 这台取款机可以用外国卡吗？ (Can this ATM use foreign cards?) and 可以取现金吗？ (Can I withdraw cash?). To ask about an amount, use 是多少？ (shì duōshao?): 手续费是多少？ (How much is the fee?). Keep the word order subject + 可以 + verb + object + 吗. Do not add 是 before 可以 in this pattern. Note that 可以 here expresses permission or possibility, not ability; for ability, Mandarin uses 会 (huì) or 能 (néng).
When to use it
Use 这台取款机可以用外国卡吗？ before you insert your card, especially at small banks or standalone machines. If the answer is 可以 (kěyǐ, yes, it can) or 不可以 (bù kěyǐ, no, it cannot), you know whether to continue. Use 我想取现金 when a staff member asks 您要办什么？ (What would you like to do?). On screen, look for 取款 (qǔkuǎn, withdrawal), 插卡 (insert card), 输入密码 (enter PIN), and 退卡 (eject card). If you need help, say 请帮我一下 (qǐng bāng wǒ yīxià, please help me). Note that 取款机 is the standard term for ATM; 自动取款机 (zìdòng qǔkuǎnjī) is the full form, and 提款机 (tíkuǎnjī) is also heard in some regions.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
您好，这台取款机可以用外国卡吗？
Hello, can this ATM use foreign cards?nín hǎo, zhè tái qǔkuǎnjī kěyǐ yòng wàiguó kǎ ma?可以。请插卡，然后输入密码。
Yes. Please insert your card, then enter your PIN.kěyǐ. qǐng chā kǎ, ránhòu shūrù mìmǎ.我想取现金。手续费是多少？
I want to withdraw cash. How much is the fee?wǒ xiǎng qǔ xiànjīn. shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?每笔十元。请按确认。
Ten yuan per transaction. Please press confirm.měi bǐ shí yuán. qǐng àn quèrèn.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, many ATMs display Chinese first, with an English option on the screen. Staff at bank branches usually speak Mandarin, but not always English, so short clear phrases help. Fees depend on the bank, the card network, and whether the machine is inside a branch or on the street. Ask before confirming, because some machines charge per withdrawal. Keep your receipt if you may need it for records. Note that 元 (yuán) is the formal unit of currency; in everyday speech people often say 块 (kuài), so 十元 and 十块 both mean ten yuan.
One thing to watch for
Saying 我可以外国卡吗？ (wǒ kěyǐ wàiguó kǎ ma?) to mean 'Can I use a foreign card?'
Try this instead: 可以 needs a verb after it. Say 我可以用外国卡吗？ (wǒ kěyǐ yòng wàiguó kǎ ma?) or, about the machine, 这台取款机可以用外国卡吗？ (zhè tái qǔkuǎnjī kěyǐ yòng wàiguó kǎ ma?). Include 用 (yòng, use) before the card. Also note that 可以 here means 'may' or 'can' in the sense of permission, not physical ability.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask whether this ATM accepts foreign cards?
Show a sample answer
这台取款机可以用外国卡吗？ (zhè tái qǔkuǎnjī kěyǐ yòng wàiguó kǎ ma?)
This uses 可以……吗？ with 用 (use) and 外国卡 (foreign card). You can also ask 这里可以用外国卡吗？ if you are not sure which machine.
2You want to withdraw cash and ask the fee. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
我想取现金。手续费是多少？ (wǒ xiǎng qǔ xiànjīn. shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?)
我想取现金 states your goal, and 手续费是多少 asks the fee. If you already know the fee word, you can also ask 要手续费吗？ (yào shǒuxùfèi ma?, Is there a fee?).
3The screen shows 请输入密码. What should you do?
Show a sample answer
Enter your PIN, then press 确认 (quèrèn, confirm).
密码 means PIN or password. 请 means please, and 输入 means enter. If you need more time, you can say 请等一下 (qǐng děng yīxià, please wait a moment).
Before inserting your card, ask 这台取款机可以用外国卡吗？ Then say 我想取现金 and ask 手续费是多少？ before you confirm the withdrawal.
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