Chinese for Travel
English
Unit 3 · Payment Lesson 17 6 min Free in the app

Setting up mobile payment in Chinese

Ask about Alipay, WeChat Pay, foreign cards, identity verification, and whether mobile payment is accepted. A coffee stand on the Bund, Shanghai. There's no cash drawer, just a QR code, so your payment app has to work.

绑卡

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.

  • 请问这里可以用支付宝吗？

    Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?

    Excuse me, can I use Alipay here?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 这里zhèlǐ
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 用yòng
    • 支付宝Zhīfùbǎo
    • 吗ma

  • 我想设置支付宝。

    Wǒ xiǎng shèzhì Zhīfùbǎo.

    I’d like to set up Alipay.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 想xiǎng
    • 设置shèzhì
    • 支付宝Zhīfùbǎo

  • 可以绑定外国银行卡吗？

    Kěyǐ bǎngdìng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma?

    Can I link a foreign bank card?

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 绑定bǎngdìng
    • 外国wàiguó
    • 银行卡yínhángkǎ
    • 吗ma

  • 可以用护照验证吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng hùzhào yànzhèng ma?

    Can I verify with my passport?

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 用yòng
    • 护照hùzhào
    • 验证yànzhèng
    • 吗ma

  • 我收不到验证码。

    Wǒ shōu bù dào yànzhèngmǎ.

    I can’t receive the verification code.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 收shōu
    • 不bù
    • 到dào
    • 验证码yànzhèngmǎ

  • 如果不能用，我可以用现金吗？

    Rúguǒ bù néng yòng, wǒ kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma?

    If it does not work, can I pay with cash?

    • 如果Rúguǒ
    • 不bù
    • 能néng
    • 用yòng
    • 我wǒ
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 用yòng
    • 现金xiànjīn
    • 吗ma

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 请问这里可以用微信支付吗？

    Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn Zhīfù ma?

    Excuse me, can I use WeChat Pay here?

  • 可以，我们支持支付宝和微信支付。

    Kěyǐ, wǒmen zhīchí Zhīfùbǎo hé Wēixìn Zhīfù.

    Yes, we accept Alipay and WeChat Pay.

  • 我想设置微信支付。

    Wǒ xiǎng shèzhì Wēixìn Zhīfù.

    I’d like to set up WeChat Pay.

  • 可以绑定 Visa 卡吗？

    Kěyǐ bǎngdìng Visa kǎ ma?

    Can I link a Visa card?

  • 可以绑定 Mastercard 吗？

    Kěyǐ bǎngdìng Mastercard ma?

    Can I link a Mastercard?

  • 您可以尝试绑定外国银行卡。

    Nín kěyǐ chángshì bǎngdìng wàiguó yínhángkǎ.

    You can try linking a foreign bank card.

  • 需要身份验证吗？

    Xūyào shēnfèn yànzhèng ma?

    Is identity verification required?

  • 我没有中国身份证。

    Wǒ méiyǒu Zhōngguó shēnfènzhèng.

    I don’t have a Chinese ID card.

  • 我没有中国手机号。

    Wǒ méiyǒu Zhōngguó shǒujī hào.

    I don’t have a Chinese phone number.

  • 可以帮我看一下这个页面吗？

    Kěyǐ bāng wǒ kàn yíxià zhège yèmiàn ma?

    Could you help me check this page?

  • 我不知道下一步该怎么做。

    Wǒ bù zhīdào xià yí bù gāi zěnme zuò.

    I don’t know what to do next.

  • 这个付款方式可以在中国使用吗？

    Zhège fùkuǎn fāngshì kěyǐ zài Zhōngguó shǐyòng ma?

    Can this payment method be used in China?

  • 我可以先试着付款吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ xiān shìzhe fùkuǎn ma?

    Can I try to pay first?

  • 如果不能用，我可以用银行卡吗？

    Rúguǒ bù néng yòng, wǒ kěyǐ yòng yínhángkǎ ma?

    If it does not work, can I pay by bank card?

  • 请问附近哪里可以取现金？

    Qǐngwèn fùjìn nǎlǐ kěyǐ qǔ xiànjīn?

    Excuse me, where nearby can I withdraw cash?

  • 可以请您写下来吗？

    Kěyǐ qǐng nín xiě xiàlái ma?

    Could you please write it down?

  • 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.

  1. Staff

    只能扫码，不收现金。

    Zhǐ néng sǎo mǎ, bù shōu xiànjīn.

    QR codes only. We don't take cash.

    You

    请问这里可以用支付宝吗？

    Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?

    Excuse me, can I use Alipay here?

  2. Staff

    验证码会发到您手机上。

    Yànzhèngmǎ huì fā dào nín shǒujī shàng.

    The code will be sent to your phone.

    You

    我收不到验证码。

    Wǒ shōu bù dào yànzhèngmǎ.

    I can’t receive the verification code.

Play the scene

A coffee stand on the Bund, Shanghai. There's no cash drawer, just a QR code, so your payment app has to work.

上海·外滩 · The Bund, Shanghai

  1. Staff

    只能扫码，不收现金。

    Zhǐ néng sǎo mǎ, bù shōu xiànjīn.

    QR codes only. We don't take cash.

  2. You

    请问这里可以用支付宝吗？

    Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?

    Excuse me, can I use Alipay here?

  3. Traveler

    可以，我们支持支付宝和微信支付。

    Kěyǐ, wǒmen zhīchí Zhīfùbǎo hé Wēixìn Zhīfù.

    Yes, we accept Alipay and WeChat Pay.

  4. You

    我想设置支付宝。

    Wǒ xiǎng shèzhì Zhīfùbǎo.

    I’d like to set up Alipay.

  5. Staff

    您先在支付宝里绑一张卡。

    Nín xiān zài Zhīfùbǎo lǐ bǎng yì zhāng kǎ.

    First link a card in Alipay.

  6. You

    可以绑定外国银行卡吗？

    Kěyǐ bǎngdìng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma?

    Can I link a foreign bank card?

  7. Staff

    还要做身份验证。

    Hái yào zuò shēnfèn yànzhèng.

    You'll also need to verify your identity.

  8. You

    可以用护照验证吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng hùzhào yànzhèng ma?

    Can I verify with my passport?

Culture tip

Prepare a backup payment method

Mobile payment may fail because of verification, card limits, network problems, or merchant restrictions. Carry a bank card and some cash if possible.

What can you ask if you do not have a Chinese ID card?

Show the answer

可以用护照验证吗？ — Can I verify with my passport?

Go deeper

Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.

Key Terms

支付宝 Alipay, one of the most widely used mobile payment apps in China. Many shops, restaurants, taxis, and attractions accept it.

请问这里可以用支付宝吗？ Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma? Excuse me, can I use Alipay here?

微信支付 WeChat Pay, another widely used mobile payment method in China. It is built into the WeChat app.

请问这里可以用微信支付吗？ Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn Zhīfù ma? Excuse me, can I use WeChat Pay here?

绑定银行卡 To link a bank card to a payment app so you can pay through the app.

可以绑定外国银行卡吗？ Kěyǐ bǎngdìng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma? Can I link a foreign bank card?

外国银行卡 A bank card issued outside China. Whether it works depends on the app, card network, bank, merchant, and transaction type.

您可以尝试绑定外国银行卡。 Nín kěyǐ chángshì bǎngdìng wàiguó yínhángkǎ. You can try linking a foreign bank card.

身份验证 Identity verification. Payment apps may ask you to verify your identity before using some features.

需要身份验证吗？ Xūyào shēnfèn yànzhèng ma? Is identity verification required?

护照验证 Identity verification using your passport. Foreign travelers may be able to use passport verification in some apps or services.

可以用护照验证吗？ Kěyǐ yòng hùzhào yànzhèng ma? Can I verify with my passport?

Before You Rely on Mobile Payment

Confirm the merchant accepts it

Before ordering or buying, ask whether Alipay or WeChat Pay is accepted.

Test a small payment

If you are unsure whether your setup works, ask to try paying first before depending on it.

Prepare a backup payment method

Mobile payment may fail because of verification, card limits, network problems, or merchant restrictions. Carry a bank card and some cash if possible.

Keep internet access available

Mobile payment usually needs internet access. Make sure your SIM, eSIM, roaming, or Wi-Fi works before you need to pay.

Useful Question Patterns

这里可以用……吗？ Use this to ask whether a payment method is accepted here.

请问这里可以用支付宝吗？ Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma? Excuse me, can I use Alipay here?

可以绑定……吗？ Use this to ask whether you can link a card or account.

可以绑定外国银行卡吗？ Kěyǐ bǎngdìng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma? Can I link a foreign bank card?

我没有…… Use this to explain that you do not have something required.

我没有中国身份证。 Wǒ méiyǒu Zhōngguó shēnfènzhèng. I don’t have a Chinese ID card.

如果不能用，我可以用……吗？ Use this to ask about backup payment methods.

如果不能用，我可以用现金吗？ Rúguǒ bù néng yòng, wǒ kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma? If it does not work, can I pay with cash?

Setup Troubleshooting

Verification code problem

If you cannot receive the verification code, say: 我收不到验证码。 Ask whether email, passport, or another verification method is available.

No Chinese ID card

Foreign travelers usually do not have a Chinese ID card. Ask whether passport verification is accepted.

Foreign card cannot be linked

If a foreign card cannot be linked, try another card if available, check card network support, or use cash or a bank card directly.

Page or app is confusing

Show the page to official staff and say: 可以帮我看一下这个页面吗？我不知道下一步该怎么做。

Safety and Privacy Tips

Ask official staff only

For payment app setup, bank cards, verification, or account issues, ask official staff at a bank, hotel, airport, store, or service counter.

Protect verification codes

Do not casually share verification codes. Enter them yourself in the correct official app or page.

Do not hand over your unlocked phone unnecessarily

If staff helps you, watch the screen and avoid leaving your phone unattended.

Keep a backup option

Before going out, keep enough battery, internet access, a bank card, and some emergency cash if possible.

Interactive Scenarios

Asking if mobile payment is accepted

  • Traveler请问这里可以用支付宝吗？

    Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?

    Excuse me, can I use Alipay here?

  • Traveler请问这里可以用微信支付吗？

    Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn Zhīfù ma?

    Excuse me, can I use WeChat Pay here?

Setting up payment app

  • Traveler我想设置支付宝。

    Wǒ xiǎng shèzhì Zhīfùbǎo.

    I’d like to set up Alipay.

  • Traveler可以绑定外国银行卡吗？

    Kěyǐ bǎngdìng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma?

    Can I link a foreign bank card?

  • Traveler可以用护照验证吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng hùzhào yànzhèng ma?

    Can I verify with my passport?

Payment app does not work

  • Traveler我可以先试着付款吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ xiān shìzhe fùkuǎn ma?

    Can I try to pay first?

  • Traveler如果不能用，我可以用现金吗？

    Rúguǒ bù néng yòng, wǒ kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma?

    If it does not work, can I pay with cash?

  • Traveler如果不能用，我可以用银行卡吗？

    Rúguǒ bù néng yòng, wǒ kěyǐ yòng yínhángkǎ ma?

    If it does not work, can I pay by bank card?

Mini Quiz

How do you ask “Can I use Alipay here?”
  • 请问这里可以用支付宝吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 请问哪里可以买手机卡？
  • 我收不到验证码。
Which phrase asks if you can link a foreign bank card?
  • 可以绑定外国银行卡吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 可以开热点吗？
  • 可以帮我连接 Wi-Fi 吗？
What can you ask if you do not have a Chinese ID card?
  • 可以用护照验证吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 这个套餐可以开热点吗？
  • 请按计价器收费。
Which phrase asks to pay with cash as a backup?
  • 如果不能用，我可以用现金吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 请问这里可以用支付宝吗？
  • 我不知道下一步该怎么做。

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