jiāo fèi: 交费 - To Pay a Fee, To Pay Bills

• Keywords: 交费, jiao fei, pay a fee in Chinese, pay bills in Chinese, how to pay fees, what does jiaofei mean, Chinese for payment, paying utilities in China, 交錢, 付费, pay tuition in Chinese, make a payment
• Summary: Learn how to use “交费 (jiāo fèi)”, the essential Chinese verb for paying required fees, bills, and charges. This guide explains its meaning, cultural context in modern digital China, and practical usage for everyday tasks like paying utility bills, tuition, or membership fees. Master the difference between 交费, 付款 (fùkuǎn), and 买 (mǎi) with clear examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiāo fèi
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Compound (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To pay a required fee, charge, or bill.
• In a Nutshell: “交费” is the standard term for settling a formal, obligatory payment. It's not used for casual purchases like buying a coffee. Instead, think of it as the action of clearing a debt or paying for an ongoing service you're registered for, such as your electricity bill, your child's tuition, or your gym membership. It implies fulfilling a responsibility.

• 交 (jiāo): This character's core meaning is “to hand over,” “to deliver,” or “to exchange.” Imagine handing something over to another person; this is the essence of 交.
• 费 (fèi): This character means “fee,” “cost,” or “expense.” It represents the money or resources required for something.
• Combined Meaning: The logic is direct and transparent: you “hand over” (交) the “fee” (费). Together, 交费 literally means “to hand over the fee,” which perfectly encapsulates the modern meaning of paying a bill or charge.

The term 交费 itself is a straightforward transactional word, but its cultural significance lies in the dramatic evolution of how this action is performed in China. For decades, to 交费 meant physically going to a specific location—the bank for a utility bill, the post office for a phone bill, or the school's finance office for tuition—and waiting in a long line (排队 - páiduì). This was a common, time-consuming part of daily life. Today, this has been almost entirely replaced by digital payments. The action of 交费 is now predominantly done through super-apps like WeChat Pay (微信支付) and Alipay (支付宝). These apps have integrated “Lifestyle Payment” or “Civic Services” sections where users can link their utility, internet, and other accounts and pay them with a few taps. So, while the word 交费 remains the same, the context has shifted from a physical, public chore to a private, instantaneous digital transaction. This reflects China's rapid leap into a cashless, mobile-first society. For a learner, understanding this transition is key to understanding modern life in China.

交费 is a high-frequency, practical term used in many contexts involving set charges.

• Paying Bills: This is the most common usage. You 交电费 (jiāo diànfèi - pay the electricity bill), 交水费 (jiāo shuǐfèi - pay the water bill), and 交网费 (jiāo wǎngfèi - pay the internet bill).
• Education: A crucial term for students and parents is 交学费 (jiāo xuéfèi - to pay tuition fees).
• Healthcare: When you visit a hospital in China, you'll first need to pay a registration fee, or 交挂号费 (jiāo guàhàofèi). You'll also need to 交费 for prescriptions and treatments.
• Memberships and Dues: You would use it to talk about paying your gym membership, or 交会员费 (jiāo huìyuánfèi).
• At a Counter: You will often see signs that say “请到这里交费” (qǐng dào zhèlǐ jiāofèi - Please pay here) at cashier windows in hospitals, service centers, and administrative offices.

The term is neutral in connotation and is standard in both spoken and written Chinese.

• Example 1:
  • 你这个月的电费交费了吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhège yuè de diànfèi jiāo fèi le ma?
  • English: Have you paid this month's electricity bill?
  • Analysis: A very common, everyday question between roommates or family members.
• Example 2:
  • 不好意思，请问在哪里交费？
  • Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, qǐngwèn zài nǎlǐ jiāo fèi?
  • English: Excuse me, where can I pay the fee?
  • Analysis: A crucial sentence to know when you are at a hospital, a government office, or any large service center.
• Example 3:
  • 我们需要在这个月底之前交费。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào zài zhège yuèdǐ zhīqián jiāo fèi.
  • English: We need to pay the fee before the end of this month.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the sense of a deadline and obligation associated with 交费.
• Example 4:
  • 现在我都是用手机App来交费，非常方便。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài wǒ dōu shì yòng shǒujī App lái jiāo fèi, fēicháng fāngbiàn.
  • English: Now I always use a mobile app to pay bills; it's extremely convenient.
  • Analysis: This reflects the modern reality of how most people in China handle their regular payments.
• Example 5:
  • 报名这个课程需要先交费。
  • Pinyin: Bàomíng zhège kèchéng xūyào xiān jiāo fèi.
  • English: To register for this course, you need to pay the fee first.
  • Analysis: This shows that 交费 is often a prerequisite for receiving a service or gaining access.
• Example 6:
  • 如果你逾期不交费，会有滞纳金。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ yúqī bù jiāo fèi, huì yǒu zhìnàjīn.
  • English: If you don't pay by the deadline, there will be a late fee.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the formal and non-negotiable nature of the payments covered by 交费.
• Example 7:
  • 停车场的出口有自动交费机。
  • Pinyin: Tíngchēchǎng de chūkǒu yǒu zìdòng jiāo fèi jī.
  • English: There is an automatic payment machine at the exit of the parking lot.
  • Analysis: Here, 交费 is used in the context of automated systems for paying for a service (parking).
• Example 8:
  • 每年九月是大学新生交费的高峰期。
  • Pinyin: Měinián jiǔ yuè shì dàxué xīnshēng jiāo fèi de gāofēngqī.
  • English: September is the peak period for new university students to pay their tuition fees.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 交费 in the specific context of education (学费 - xuéfèi).
• Example 9:
  • 所有的费用都需要在收银台一次性交费。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de fèiyòng dōu xūyào zài shōuyíntái yīcìxìng jiāo fèi.
  • English: All fees must be paid at the cashier in one single transaction.
  • Analysis: This sentence is typical of instructions given at a place of business or service center.
• Example 10:
  • 物业提醒我们下周三之前要去交费。
  • Pinyin: Wùyè tíxǐng wǒmen xià zhōusān zhīqián yào qù jiāo fèi.
  • English: The property management reminded us to go pay the fees before next Wednesday.
  • Analysis: In China, property management fees (物业费 - wùyèfèi) are another common type of payment handled with 交费.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 交费 with other words for “pay.”

• 交费 (jiāo fèi) vs. 买 (mǎi):
  • 交费 (jiāo fèi): For required, recurring, or service-based fees. You pay for an obligation. (e.g., electricity bill, tuition, phone bill).
  • 买 (mǎi): “To buy.” For purchasing tangible goods or simple, one-off items. (e.g., coffee, clothes, a book).
  • Incorrect: 我去交费一个苹果。 (Wǒ qù jiāo fèi yīgè píngguǒ.)
  • Correct: 我去买一个苹果。 (Wǒ qù mǎi yīgè píngguǒ.)
• 交费 (jiāo fèi) vs. 付款 (fùkuǎn):
  • 交费 (jiāo fèi): Emphasizes the *type* of payment—it's a fee or bill. The focus is on clearing the specific charge.
  • 付款 (fùkuǎn): “To make a payment.” A more formal and general term that focuses on the *action* of transferring money. It's often used on website checkout buttons (“Pay Now”) or in business contracts. You can use 付款 for a wider range of situations than 交费.
  • Example: You 交水电费 (pay the utility bill), and when you do it online, you click the button to 付款 (make the payment).

• 付费 (fùfèi) - A close synonym, slightly more formal. Often used as an adjective, meaning “paid” or “fee-paying” (e.g., 付费电视 - pay-per-view TV).
• 付款 (fùkuǎn) - To make a payment. A more formal term focusing on the transaction itself, common in e-commerce and business.
• 费用 (fèiyòng) - Noun. The general word for “cost,” “expense,” or “fee.” This is the thing that you 交.
• 学费 (xuéfèi) - Tuition fee. A very common and specific type of fee.
• 水电费 (shuǐdiànfèi) - Water and electricity bill. A common compound noun for utilities.
• 买单 (mǎidān) - To pay the bill, but specifically in a restaurant or bar context. It's more colloquial than 交费.
• 支付 (zhīfù) - To pay. A very common verb, especially in the context of digital payments like 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo - Alipay). It is a general term for payment.
• 免费 (miǎnfèi) - Free of charge. The direct antonym of paying a fee.
• 收费 (shōufèi) - To charge a fee. This is the action from the perspective of the seller or service provider. The opposite of 交费.