Chinese word

投币

Pronunciation

Pinyintóu bì

Meaning

  • verbinsert coins

Example

这台机器可以投币吗？zhè tái jī qì ké yǐ tóu bì ma

Can coins be inserted into this machine?

Illustration for 投币 (insert coins)

More examples

投币后没有找零，请联系工作人员。tóu bì hòu méi yǒu zhǎo líng qǐng lián xì gōng zuò rén yuán

After inserting coins, no change comes out, so please contact a staff member.

Core concept

A coin moves from the user's hand into a device, connecting payment with its operation.

Common phrases

  • 请投币qǐng tóu bì

    please insert coins

  • 投币成功tóu bì chéng gōng

    coins inserted successfully

  • 投币后取票tóu bì hòu qǔ piào

    take the ticket after inserting coins

Similar words

刷卡shuā kǎ: Use a card by tapping or swiping it at a terminal to pay.
插卡chā kǎ: Insert a card into a machine to operate it or make a payment.
扫码sǎo mǎ: Scan a QR code with a phone to make a payment.
投钱tóu qián: Put paper money or coins into a machine by hand to pay.

Definition in Chinese

把硬币放入机器或设备的投入口，使其开始计费或取得服务的动作。bǎ yìng bì fàng rù jī qì huò shè bèi de tóu rù kǒu shǐ qí kāi shǐ jì fèi huò qǔ dé fú wù de dòng zuò

Word origin

The verb 投币 (tóubì, "insert coins") combines 投 (tóu, "put into") with 币 (bì, "coin"), making the machine-payment action clear from its parts.

Usage tips

  • In a question about an unfamiliar machine, this verb checks whether coin payment is accepted, not whether the machine is switched on or working.

Opposites

  • 退币tuì bìreturn coinsverb

Related words

  • 投币机tóu bì jīcoin-operated machinenoun
  • 投币箱tóu bì xiāngcoin collection boxnoun
  • 投币口tóu bì kǒucoin slotnoun

Word lists with this word