jiézhàng: 结账 - To Pay the Bill, Settle an Account

• Keywords: jiezhang, jiézhàng, 结账, pay the bill in Chinese, Chinese for check please, how to pay in China, settle account, checkout, 买单, mǎidān, fùqián, Chinese restaurant vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 结账 (jiézhàng), which means “to pay the bill” or “settle the account.” This page will teach you how to use it in restaurants, hotels, and shops across China. We'll explore the cultural significance behind paying, such as the practice of “fighting to pay the bill,” and compare it with the more colloquial term 买单 (mǎidān). Master this word to handle any transaction with confidence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiézhàng
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To conclude a transaction by paying the amount due.
• In a Nutshell: 结账 (jiézhàng) is the standard and most widely used term for finishing a purchase and paying for it. Think of it as the action you take when you're ready to leave a restaurant, check out of a hotel, or pay a cashier at a store. It’s a direct, functional phrase that signals you are ready to settle the bill and complete your business.

• 结 (jié): The original meaning of this character is “to tie a knot” or “to bind.” By extension, it means “to conclude,” “to finish,” or “to form.” Think of it as tying up loose ends.
• 账 (zhàng): This character means “account,” “bill,” or “debt.” Notice the radical on the left: 贝 (bèi). This radical originally depicted a cowrie shell, which was used as an early form of currency in ancient China. Today, 贝 is found in many characters related to money and value.
• Together, 结账 (jiézhàng) literally means “to tie up the account” or “to conclude the bill.” This perfectly captures the meaning of settling a payment and officially closing the transaction.

While 结账 (jiézhàng) is a simple transactional term, the act of paying the bill in China is rich with cultural meaning, especially in social settings. The most famous custom is the “fight for the bill.” In a group meal with friends, family, or business partners, it's common for multiple people to insist on paying for everyone. This is not a real argument, but a social ritual. By treating others (请客 - qǐngkè), a person demonstrates generosity, respect, and social standing, which is closely tied to the concept of 面子 (miànzi), or “face.” Letting an elder or a host pay is a sign of respect, while grabbing the bill can show your own capability and warmth. This contrasts sharply with the common Western practice of “going Dutch” or splitting the bill. While splitting the bill (known as AA制 - AA zhì) is becoming more popular among young people in China, especially with the ease of mobile payment apps, the tradition of treating others remains strong. If you are a guest, your host will almost certainly insist on paying. A polite, but not overly aggressive, offer to pay is appreciated, but you should ultimately allow your host to 结账.

结账 (jiézhàng) is a versatile and essential term used daily across the country.

• In Restaurants: This is the most common scenario. To get the bill, you catch the attention of a server and say, “服务员，结账！” (Fúwùyuán, jiézhàng!) - “Waiter, the bill, please!”
• At Hotels: When you are leaving a hotel, you go to the front desk to check out. The process of settling your room charges is called 结账.
• In Stores: At a department store or supermarket, you take your items to the cashier to 结账.
• Formality: It's a neutral term, appropriate for almost any situation, from a casual noodle shop to a high-end hotel. It's slightly more formal and universal than its colloquial cousin, 买单 (mǎidān). While both are often interchangeable in restaurants, 结账 is the more appropriate term for official bills, like utilities or hotel stays.
• Figurative Usage: In a more serious or literary context, 结账 can mean “to settle a score” or “to get even with someone,” though this is less common in daily conversation.

• Example 1:
  • 服务员，结账！
  • Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, jiézhàng!
  • English: Waiter, the bill, please!
  • Analysis: This is the most classic and direct way to ask to pay in a restaurant. It's polite and universally understood.
• Example 2:
  • 我们吃完了，去结账吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen chī wán le, qù jiézhàng ba.
  • English: We've finished eating, let's go pay the bill.
  • Analysis: A common phrase used among friends or family to signal it's time to leave and settle the payment.
• Example 3:
  • 今天我请客，我来结账。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān wǒ qǐngkè, wǒ lái jiézhàng.
  • English: It's my treat today, I'll get the bill.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the cultural practice of treating others (请客 - qǐngkè). `我来 (wǒ lái)` is a very common and assertive way to say “I'll do it.”
• Example 4:
  • 请问，你们这里可以微信结账吗？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, nǐmen zhèlǐ kěyǐ Wēixìn jiézhàng ma?
  • English: Excuse me, can I pay with WeChat here?
  • Analysis: This shows how 结账 is used with modern payment methods. You can substitute `微信 (Wēixìn)` with `支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo)` for Alipay.
• Example 5:
  • 在退房之前，别忘了去前台结账。
  • Pinyin: Zài tuìfáng zhīqián, bié wàngle qù qiántái jiézhàng.
  • English: Before checking out of the room, don't forget to go to the front desk to settle the bill.
  • Analysis: This example clearly shows the use of 结账 in a hotel context. `退房 (tuìfáng)` means “to check out.”
• Example 6:
  • 这里的规矩是先结账后吃饭。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de guījǔ shì xiān jiézhàng hòu chīfàn.
  • English: The rule here is to pay first, then eat.
  • Analysis: This is common in fast-food restaurants or food courts. It demonstrates the flexibility of the term within different business models.
• Example 7:
  • 这顿饭谁结账？我们AA制吧。
  • Pinyin: Zhè dùn fàn shéi jiézhàng? Wǒmen AA zhì ba.
  • English: Who's paying for this meal? Let's go Dutch (split it).
  • Analysis: This shows how to ask who is paying and then suggest splitting the bill (AA制), which is common among younger Chinese people.
• Example 8:
  • 老板，这些东西一共多少钱？我要结账了。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, zhèxiē dōngxi yīgòng duōshǎo qián? Wǒ yào jiézhàng le.
  • English: Boss, how much is all this stuff? I'm ready to pay.
  • Analysis: Used in a small shop or market. Calling the owner `老板 (lǎobǎn)` is a common and friendly way to address them.
• Example 9:
  • 他的公司倒闭了，还有很多账没结。
  • Pinyin: Tā de gōngsī dǎobì le, hái yǒu hěn duō zhàng méi jié.
  • English: His company went bankrupt, and there are still many accounts that haven't been settled.
  • Analysis: Here, the characters are split. `结账` is a verb-object phrase, so you can say `结 (jié)` a `账 (zhàng)`. `没结 (méi jié)` means “haven't settled.” This is a more advanced usage.
• Example 10:
  • 你一再欺骗我，我们之间是时候结一下账了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yīzài qīpiàn wǒ, wǒmen zhījiān shì shíhou jié yíxià zhàng le.
  • English: You've deceived me again and again, it's time for us to settle the score.
  • Analysis: This is the figurative meaning of 结账, meaning to “settle accounts” or “get even” for past wrongdoings. The tone is very serious.

• `结账 (jiézhàng)` vs. `买单 (mǎidān)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 结账 (jiézhàng): More formal, universal, and standard. It can be used for any kind of bill (restaurants, hotels, utilities, professional services). It's always a safe choice.
  • 买单 (mǎidān): More colloquial and literally means “to buy the bill.” It originated from Cantonese and is very common in Southern China, but now understood everywhere. It's used almost exclusively for restaurant or bar tabs. You wouldn't use `买单` to check out of a hotel.
  • Mistake: Using `买单` for a formal bill, like settling an account with a supplier. In that case, 结账 is the correct term. For a meal with friends, either is fine.
• It's an Action, Not Just a Request: In English, “Check, please!” is a request to receive the paper bill. In Chinese, 结账 implies you are ready to perform the action of paying right now. While you will be brought a bill, the phrase signals the entire process of closing out.
• Don't Confuse with `算账 (suànzhàng)`:
  • 算账 (suànzhàng): Literally “to calculate the bill.” You might say this if you are double-checking the items on the bill for accuracy. However, like 结账, it also has a strong figurative meaning of “settling a score” or “getting even,” and this negative connotation is more common. It's best to stick to 结账 for paying.

• 买单 (mǎidān) - A more colloquial synonym for 结账, used primarily in restaurants and bars.
• 付款 (fùkuǎn) - “To make a payment.” A more general and slightly more formal term, often used for online transactions or paying invoices.
• 付钱 (fùqián) - “To pay money.” A very direct and literal term. It focuses on the physical or digital act of handing over money.
• AA制 (AA zhì) - “To go Dutch” or split the bill. The “AA” comes from the English “Algebraic Average.”
• 请客 (qǐngkè) - “To treat” or “to host.” The act of paying for others as a gesture of generosity or social obligation.
• 服务员 (fúwùyuán) - “Waiter,” “attendant.” The person you call over to 结账.
• 发票 (fāpiào) - The official, government-printed receipt or invoice, which is often required for business expense reimbursement. You often ask for this after you 结账.
• 算账 (suànzhàng) - To calculate a bill, but more often used figuratively to mean “to settle a score.”