Simplified Chinese - Lesson 151 of 156: Payments

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

可以扫码吗

Kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma?

Can I scan to pay?

Meaning: Can I scan to pay?

When to use: Ask this when you want to scan a merchant’s QR code to pay with your phone.

Tip: Don't shorten to '可以扫吗？' — the full '可��以扫码吗？' is more natural here.

我在超市排队，想问收银员：'可以扫码吗？'

Wǒ zài chāoshì páiduì, xiǎng wèn shōuyínyuán: 'Kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma?'

I'm in line at the supermarket and ask the cashier, 'Can I scan (to pay)?'

有时餐厅会贴两张二维码，我会先问：'可以扫码吗？'

Yǒu shí cāntīng huì tiē liǎng zhāng èrwéimǎ, wǒ huì xiān wèn: 'Kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma?'

Sometimes a restaurant posts two QR codes; I first ask, 'Can I scan (to pay)?'

我扫你

Wǒ sǎo nǐ.

I’ll scan your code.

Meaning: I’ll scan your code.

When to use: Say this when you will use your phone to scan the other person's QR code.

Tip: Be careful: this means you will do the scanning. Some beginners mix up who scans whose code.

手机没电，朋友说：'我扫你。' 然后帮我付款。

Shǒujī méi diàn, péngyǒu shuō: 'Wǒ sǎo nǐ.' Ránhòu bāng wǒ fùkuǎn.

My phone died, a friend said 'I'll scan (for) you.' Then they helped pay for me.

老师要收钱买教具，学生递过码，小明说：'我扫你。'

Lǎoshī yào shōu qián mǎi jiàojù, xuéshēng dì guò mǎ, Xiǎomíng shuō: 'Wǒ sǎo nǐ.'

The teacher collects money for materials; when a student gives the code, Xiaoming says, 'I'll scan (it).'

你扫我吧

Nǐ sǎo wǒ ba.

You can scan mine.

Meaning: You can scan mine.

When to use: Offer this when you show your QR code and invite the other person to scan it.

我出门忘带钱包，就把手机递给服务员说：'你扫我吧。'

Wǒ chūmén wàng dài qiánbāo, jiù bǎ shǒujī dì gěi fúwùyuán shuō: 'Nǐ sǎo wǒ ba.'

I forgot my wallet; I handed my phone to the server and said, 'You can scan mine.'

同事说手机更方便：'你扫我吧，我用微信转给你。'

Tóngshì shuō shǒujī gèng fāngbiàn: 'Nǐ sǎo wǒ ba, wǒ yòng Wēixìn zhuǎn gěi nǐ.'

A coworker said it's easier: 'You can scan mine; I will transfer to you on WeChat.'

微信支付可以吗？

Wēixìn zhīfù kěyǐ ma?

Is WeChat Pay okay?

Meaning: Is WeChat Pay okay?

When to use: Ask this when you want to pay with WeChat Pay and need confirmation.

在小吃店结账，我问老板：'微信支付可以吗？'

Zài xiǎochīdiàn jiézhàng, wǒ wèn lǎobǎn: 'Wēixìn zhīfù kěyǐ ma?'

At a snack shop paying the bill, I ask the owner, 'Is WeChat Pay okay?'

很多路边摊接受微信，我先说：'微信支付可以吗？' 再付款。

Hěn duō lùbiān tān jiēshòu Wēixìn, wǒ xiān shuō: 'Wēixìn zhīfù kěyǐ ma?' Zài fùkuǎn.

Many street stalls accept WeChat; I first say, 'Is WeChat Pay okay?' then pay.

支付宝可以吗

Zhīfùbǎo kěyǐ ma?

Is Alipay okay?

Meaning: Is Alipay okay?

When to use: Ask this when you prefer to pay with Alipay or want to check if the merchant accepts it.

餐厅收银台写着'扫码付'，我问：'支付宝可以吗？'

Cāntīng shōuyíntái xiězhe 'sǎomǎ fù', wǒ wèn: 'Zhīfùbǎo kěyǐ ma?'

The restaurant's register says 'scan to pay'; I ask, 'Is Alipay okay?'

在商场买东西，柜台的店员问我付款方式，我回答：'支付宝可以吗？'

Zài shāngchǎng mǎi dōngxi, guìtái de diànyuán wèn wǒ fùkuǎn fāngshì, wǒ huídá: 'Zhīfùbǎo kěyǐ ma?'

Buying something at a mall, the clerk asks payment method; I reply, 'Is Alipay okay?'

现金可以吗

Xiànjīn kěyǐ ma?

Is cash okay?

Meaning: Is cash okay?

When to use: Ask this when you prefer to pay by cash or when a place might only accept mobile pay.

有些小摊不收现金，所以我会先问：'现金可以吗？'

Yǒuxiē xiǎotān bù shōu xiànjīn, suǒyǐ wǒ huì xiān wèn: 'Xiànjīn kěyǐ ma?'

Some small stalls don't accept cash, so I ask first, 'Is cash okay?'

服务员说有活动只支持扫码，我又问：'现金可以吗？'

Fúwùyuán shuō yǒu huódòng zhǐ zhīchí sǎomǎ, wǒ yòu wèn: 'Xiànjīn kěyǐ ma?'

The server said a promotion only supports scanning; I ask again, 'Is cash okay?'

刷卡可以吗

Shuākǎ kěyǐ ma?

Can I pay by card?

Meaning: Can I pay by card?

When to use: Ask this when you want to use a bank card instead of cash or mobile payment.

在小店买礼物，我不想用手机，就问：'刷卡可以吗？'

Zài xiǎodiàn mǎi lǐwù, wǒ bù xiǎng yòng shǒujī, jiù wèn: 'Shuākǎ kěyǐ ma?'

Buying a gift at a small shop, I don't want to use my phone so I ask, 'Can I pay by card?'

酒店前台可以刷卡吗？我问前台：'刷卡可以吗？'

Jiǔdiàn qiántái kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? Wǒ wèn qiántái: 'Shuākǎ kěyǐ ma?'

I asked the hotel desk, 'Can I pay by card?'

付款成功了

Fùkuǎn chénggōng le.

The payment went through.

Meaning: The payment went through.

When to use: Say this after your mobile payment shows success or when confirming a completed transfer.

我把二维码给店员，他看了手机说：'付款成功了。'

Wǒ bǎ èrwéimǎ gěi diànyuán, tā kàn le shǒujī shuō: 'Fùkuǎn chénggōng le.'

I gave the QR code to the clerk; he looked at his phone and said, 'Payment succeeded.'

我转账后朋友在聊天里发消息：'收到，付款成功了。'

Wǒ zhuǎnzhàng hòu péngyǒu zài liáotiān lǐ fā xiāoxī: 'Shōu dào, fùkuǎn chénggōng le.'

After I transferred money, my friend messaged: 'Received, the payment went through.'

没扫上

Méi sǎo shàng.

The scan didn’t work.

Meaning: The scan didn’t work.

When to use: Say this when a QR code fails to scan or the scanner cannot read it.

我试着扫收银台的码，出现提示：'没扫上。' 所以我们换了另一个码。

Wǒ shìzhe sǎo shōuyíntái de mǎ, chūxiàn tíshì: 'Méi sǎo shàng.' Suǒyǐ wǒmen huàn le líng yīgè mǎ.

I tried to scan the register's code and it said, 'It didn't scan.' So we used a different code.

网络不好，手机显示：'没扫上。' 我们改用现金。

Wǎngluò bù hǎo, shǒujī xiǎnshì: 'Méi sǎo shàng.' Wǒmen gǎi yòng xiànjīn.

With poor network, the phone showed 'It didn't scan.' We switched to cash.

二维码扫哪个

Èrwéimǎ sǎo nǎ ge?

Which QR code should I scan?

Meaning: Which QR code should I scan?

When to use: Ask this when several QR codes are shown and you need to know which one to use.

桌上有两个二维码，我指着问服务员：'二维码扫哪个？'

Zhuō shàng yǒu liǎng gè èrwéimǎ, wǒ zhǐzhe wèn fúwùyuán: 'Èrwéimǎ sǎo nǎ ge?'

There are two QR codes on the table; I point and ask the server, 'Which QR code should I scan?'

一个是店铺收款，一个是会员付款，我不确定就问：'二维码扫哪个？'

Yīgè shì diànpù shōukuǎn, yīgè shì huìyuán fùkuǎn, wǒ bù quèdìng jiù wèn: 'Èrwéimǎ sǎo nǎ ge?'

One code is for shop payments, one for memberships; I'm unsure so I ask, 'Which QR code should I scan?'

能开发票吗

Néng kāi fāpiào ma?

Can you issue an invoice?

Meaning: Can you issue an invoice?

When to use: Use this when you need an official receipt (发票) for business or reimbursement.

吃完饭后我要报销，就问收银员：'能开发票吗？'

Chī wán fàn hòu wǒ yào bàoxiāo, jiù wèn shōuyínyuán: 'Néng kāi fāpiào ma?'

After the meal I need reimbursement, so I ask the cashier, 'Can you issue an invoice?'

酒店开房要发票，我在结账时说：'能开发票吗？'

Jiǔdiàn kāi fáng yào fāpiào, wǒ zài jiézhàng shí shuō: 'Néng kāi fāpiào ma?'

For hotel stays that require invoices, I say at checkout, 'Can you issue an invoice?'

收到钱了吗

Shōudào qián le ma?

Did you receive the money?

Meaning: Did you receive the money?

When to use: Ask this after you send a transfer or make a mobile payment and want confirmation.

我给朋友转了50元，马上发消息问：'收到钱了吗？'

Wǒ gěi péngyǒu zhuǎn le 50 yuán, mǎshàng fā xiāoxi wèn: 'Shōudào qián le ma?'

I transferred 50 RMB to a friend and immediately messaged, 'Did you receive the money?'

付款页面显示已完成，我还是发消息确认：'收到钱了吗？'

Fùkuǎn yèmiàn xiǎnshì yǐ wánchéng, wǒ háishì fā xiāoxi quèrèn: 'Shōudào qián le ma?'

Even though the payment page shows complete, I message to confirm, 'Did you get the money?'

余额不够

Yú’é bú gòu.

The balance isn’t enough.

Meaning: The balance isn’t enough.

When to use: Say this when a payment fails because your mobile wallet or card doesn’t have enough funds.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say '钱不够。' which is ok but less specific than '余额不够。'

我尝试付钱时，手机提示：'余额不够。' 所以我换成现金。

Wǒ chángshì fù qián shí, shǒujī tíshì: 'Yú'é bù gòu.' Suǒyǐ wǒ huàn chéng xiànjīn.

When I tried to pay, the phone said 'The balance isn't enough.' So I switched to cash.

支付宝转账失败，朋友说是：'余额不够。' 我马上去银行补钱。

Zhīfùbǎo zhuǎnzhàng shībài, péngyǒu shuō shì: 'Yú'é bù gòu.' Wǒ mǎshàng qù yínháng bǔ qián.

An Alipay transfer failed; my friend said 'The balance isn't enough.' I went to top up at the bank.

Simplified Chinese - Payments

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase asks if Alipay is okay?

Which phrase means 'The balance isn't enough'?

Which phrase would you say after a successful mobile payment?

Which phrase asks 'Which QR code should I scan?'

The clerk placed the phone on the table and said: 'Can I scan (to pay)?'

I tried to scan three times and it didn't work, so I said, 'It didn't scan.'

This is for company reimbursement. After paying I said to the server: 'Can you issue an invoice?'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice