The characters combine logically: 移动 (yídòng) means “mobile” or “moveable,” and 支付 (zhīfù) is a formal term for “payment.” Together, 移动支付 (yídòng zhīfù) literally translates to “mobile payment,” a direct and unambiguous term.
In the West, mobile payment is a growing convenience, often supplementing credit cards and cash. In China, 移动支付 is the default and has fundamentally reshaped society. China largely leapfrogged the era of widespread credit card adoption, moving directly from a cash-based economy to a mobile-payment-based one. The Western concept of mobile payment often involves NFC technology (tapping your phone). In contrast, Chinese 移动支付 is almost entirely built around 二维码 (èrwéimǎ), or QR codes. Every business, from luxury malls to street food carts, has a QR code that customers scan to pay. This system is deeply integrated into the two super-apps that rule Chinese digital life: 1. 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo) - Alipay: Started by Alibaba, it's a dedicated financial app. 2. 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù) - WeChat Pay: Integrated into WeChat, China's primary messaging and social media app. The ubiquity of 移动支付 has created a “无现金社会” (wú xiànjīn shèhuì - cashless society). Many vendors prefer mobile payment, and some may not even have change for large cash bills. This system is also social; sending digital “红包” (hóngbāo - red envelopes) of money to friends and family through WeChat is a common practice for birthdays and holidays.
移动支付 is used for everything. It is the expected method of payment in almost all consumer situations.
The term 移动支付 itself is slightly formal. In conversation, people are more likely to ask “可以微信/支付宝吗？” (Kěyǐ Wēixìn/Zhīfùbǎo ma? - Can I use WeChat/Alipay?) or simply say “我扫你” (wǒ sǎo nǐ - I'll scan you) or “你扫我” (nǐ sǎo wǒ - You scan me).