Deposit, room rate and receipt in Chinese
Ask about room charges, deposit, payment method, refund of deposit, receipt, and invoice. A courtyard hotel near Qianmen, Beijing. You paid for the room online, but the front desk still wants a deposit.
Key phrases
The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.
-
房费已经付过了吗？
Fángfèi yǐjīng fù guò le ma?
Has the room rate already been paid?
- 房费Fángfèi
- 已经yǐjīng
- 付fù
- 过guò
- 了le
- 吗ma
-
请问押金是多少？
Qǐngwèn yājīn shì duōshǎo?
Excuse me, how much is the deposit?
- 请问Qǐngwèn
- 押金yājīn
- 是shì
- 多少duōshǎo
-
押金什么时候退？
Yājīn shénme shíhou tuì?
When will the deposit be refunded?
- 押金Yājīn
- 什么shénme
- 时候shíhou
- 退tuì
-
可以用支付宝付押金吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fù yājīn ma?
Can I pay the deposit with Alipay?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 用yòng
- 支付宝Zhīfùbǎo
- 付fù
- 押金yājīn
- 吗ma
-
可以给我押金收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yājīn shōujù ma?
Could you give me a deposit receipt?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 给gěi
- 我wǒ
- 押金yājīn
- 收据shōujù
- 吗ma
-
可以开发票吗？
Kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma?
Can you issue an invoice?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 开kāi
- 发票fāpiào
- 吗ma
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
-
请问房费是多少？
Qǐngwèn fángfèi shì duōshǎo?
Excuse me, how much is the room rate?
-
房费已经付过了。
Fángfèi yǐjīng fù guò le.
The room rate has already been paid.
-
还需要付其他费用吗？
Hái xūyào fù qítā fèiyòng ma?
Do I need to pay any other fees?
-
需要付押金。
Xūyào fù yājīn.
You need to pay a deposit.
-
押金是三百元。
Yājīn shì sānbǎi yuán.
The deposit is 300 yuan.
-
退房后会退回押金。
Tuìfáng hòu huì tuìhuí yājīn.
The deposit will be returned after check-out.
-
押金会退回原付款方式吗？
Yājīn huì tuìhuí yuán fùkuǎn fāngshì ma?
Will the deposit be returned to the original payment method?
-
押金大概多久退回？
Yājīn dàgài duōjiǔ tuìhuí?
How long will it take to return the deposit?
-
可以用现金付押金吗？
Kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn fù yājīn ma?
Can I pay the deposit in cash?
-
可以用银行卡付押金吗？
Kěyǐ yòng yínhángkǎ fù yājīn ma?
Can I pay the deposit by bank card?
-
可以用微信支付付押金吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn Zhīfù fù yājīn ma?
Can I pay the deposit with WeChat Pay?
-
可以给我付款凭证吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ fùkuǎn píngzhèng ma?
Could you give me proof of payment?
-
可以给我一张收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yì zhāng shōujù ma?
Could I have a receipt?
-
发票可以发到我的邮箱吗？
Fāpiào kěyǐ fā dào wǒ de yóuxiāng ma?
Can the invoice be sent to my email?
-
退房时还需要结算吗？
Tuìfáng shí hái xūyào jiésuàn ma?
Do I still need to settle anything at check-out?
-
请帮我写下来。
Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái.
Please write it down for me.
-
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What you’ll hear, and how to answer
Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.
-
Staff
押金可以刷卡，也可以扫码。Yājīn kěyǐ shuā kǎ, yě kěyǐ sǎo mǎ.
You can pay the deposit by card or by scanning a code.
You
可以用支付宝付押金吗？Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fù yājīn ma?
Can I pay the deposit with Alipay?
-
Staff
用支付宝只是冻结，不扣钱。Yòng Zhīfùbǎo zhǐshì dòngjié, bú kòu qián.
With Alipay it's only put on hold. Nothing is charged.
You
押金什么时候退？Yājīn shénme shíhou tuì?
When will the deposit be refunded?
Play the scene
A courtyard hotel near Qianmen, Beijing. You paid for the room online, but the front desk still wants a deposit.
-
Traveler
需要付押金。
Xūyào fù yājīn.
You need to pay a deposit.
-
You
请问押金是多少？
Qǐngwèn yājīn shì duōshǎo?
Excuse me, how much is the deposit?
What do you say?
-
Traveler
押金是三百元。
Yājīn shì sānbǎi yuán.
The deposit is 300 yuan.
-
You
可以用支付宝付押金吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fù yājīn ma?
Can I pay the deposit with Alipay?
What do you say?
-
Staff
用支付宝只是冻结，不扣钱。
Yòng Zhīfùbǎo zhǐshì dòngjié, bú kòu qián.
With Alipay it's only put on hold. Nothing is charged.
-
You
押金什么时候退？
Yājīn shénme shíhou tuì?
When will the deposit be refunded?
What do you say?
-
Staff
退房以后，一到三天解冻。
Tuìfáng yǐhòu, yī dào sān tiān jiědòng.
It's released one to three days after you check out.
-
You
可以开发票吗？
Kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma?
Can you issue an invoice?
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Confirm the amount
Ask how much the deposit is before paying. The deposit is separate from the room rate in many hotels.
What do you say to ask for a deposit receipt?
Show the answer
可以给我押金收据吗？ — Could you give me a deposit receipt?
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
房费 The room rate or hotel charge for your stay. It may be prepaid through a booking app or paid at the hotel.
押金 A deposit held by the hotel for possible extra charges or damage. It is usually returned after check-out if there are no issues.
退回押金 To return the deposit after check-out. The timing depends on the hotel, payment method, bank, or platform.
原付款方式 The original payment method used for the deposit or room charge, such as card, Alipay, WeChat Pay, or cash.
收据 A receipt showing that you paid. It may be useful for checking charges or reimbursement.
发票 An official invoice. In China, 发票 is often needed for business reimbursement or formal accounting.
Deposit Checklist
Confirm the amount
Ask how much the deposit is before paying. The deposit is separate from the room rate in many hotels.
Confirm the refund timing
Ask when and how long it takes to return the deposit. Card or mobile payment refunds may not be instant.
Confirm the refund method
Ask whether the deposit returns to the original payment method or in cash at check-out.
Get proof
Ask for a deposit receipt or payment proof, especially if the deposit is paid in cash.
Useful Question Patterns
请问……是多少？ Use this to ask the amount of a charge, deposit, or fee.
……什么时候退？ Use this to ask when something will be refunded or returned.
可以用……付押金吗？ Use this to ask whether a specific payment method can be used for the deposit.
可以给我……吗？ Use this to ask for a receipt, invoice, or proof.
Receipt and Invoice Tips
Receipt vs invoice
A receipt usually proves payment. A formal invoice may be needed for business reimbursement or company accounting.
Ask before check-out
If you need a receipt or invoice, ask at check-in or before check-out so the hotel has time to prepare it.
Email invoice
Some hotels may send invoices by email. Be ready to spell or show your email address.
Common Situations
Room was prepaid
Even if the room is prepaid, the hotel may still ask for a deposit or payment for extra services.
Deposit paid by cash
If paying the deposit in cash, ask for a deposit receipt and keep it until check-out.
Deposit paid by card or mobile payment
Ask whether the amount is a charge, pre-authorization, or deposit, and when it will be released or refunded.
Interactive Scenarios
Confirming room rate and extra fees
- Traveler请问房费是多少？
Qǐngwèn fángfèi shì duōshǎo?
Excuse me, how much is the room rate?
- Traveler房费已经付过了吗？
Fángfèi yǐjīng fù guò le ma?
Has the room rate already been paid?
- Traveler还需要付其他费用吗？
Hái xūyào fù qítā fèiyòng ma?
Do I need to pay any other fees?
Asking about deposit
- Traveler请问押金是多少？
Qǐngwèn yājīn shì duōshǎo?
Excuse me, how much is the deposit?
- Traveler押金什么时候退？
Yājīn shénme shíhou tuì?
When will the deposit be refunded?
- Traveler可以给我押金收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yājīn shōujù ma?
Could you give me a deposit receipt?
Asking for receipt or invoice
- Traveler可以给我一张收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yì zhāng shōujù ma?
Could I have a receipt?
- Traveler可以开发票吗？
Kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma?
Can you issue an invoice?
- Traveler发票可以发到我的邮箱吗？
Fāpiào kěyǐ fā dào wǒ de yóuxiāng ma?
Can the invoice be sent to my email?
Mini Quiz
How do you ask “How much is the deposit?”
- 请问押金是多少？ ✓ Answer
- 请问房间在几楼？
- 请问附近有 ATM 吗？
Which phrase asks when the deposit will be refunded?
- 押金什么时候退？ ✓ Answer
- 房费是多少？
- 电梯在哪里？
What do you say to ask for a deposit receipt?
- 可以给我押金收据吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以用护照验证吗？
- 可以换房吗？
Which phrase asks if an invoice can be issued?
- 可以开发票吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以找零吗？
- 可以扫码付款吗？