Chinese word

买单

Pronunciation

Pinyinmǎi dān

Meaning

  • verbask for the check

Example

服务员，买单！fú wù yuán mǎi dān

Waiter, the check, please!

Illustration for 买单 (ask for the check)

More examples

结账时，她说：我刷卡买单。jié zhàng shí tā shuō wǒ shuā kǎ mǎi dān

When it was time to pay, she said, "I'll pay by card."

Core concept

The final handoff in a restaurant turns a meal's running account into a completed payment.

Common phrases

  • 服务员，买单！fú wù yuán mǎi dān

    ask for the check

  • 我刷卡买单wǒ shuā kǎ mǎi dān

    pay by card

  • 大家轮流买单dà jiā lún liú mǎi dān

    take turns paying

Similar words

结账jié zhàng: Clear an account and finish paying at a restaurant, shop, or hotel.
付钱fù qián: Give money in payment for something bought or used.
支付zhī fù: Pay a charge using cash, a bank card, or a phone app.
埋单mái dān: In everyday restaurant speech, request the bill and pay it in full.

Definition in Chinese

口语动词，表示在餐馆等场合向服务员或商家结清账款并实际支付的行为，侧重结算并付清账单的动作。kóu yǔ dòng cí biǎo shì zài cān guǎn děng chǎng hé xiàng fú wù yuán huò shāng jiā jié qīng zhàng kuǎn bìng shí jì zhī fù de xíng wéi cè zhòng jié suàn bìng fù qīng zhàng dān de dòng zuò

Word origin

买单 (mǎidān, "settle the bill") is commonly linked to Cantonese usage, while 买 (mǎi, "buy") + 单 (dān, "bill or order slip") preserves the written form rather than literally meaning "buy a bill".

Usage tips

  • In casual restaurant speech, 买单 (mǎidān, "pay the bill") often stands alone when the surrounding situation already makes the object clear.

Other meanings

  • pay the billverb

Opposites

  • 逃单táo dānleave without payingverb

Word lists with this word