ATMs and currency exchange in Chinese
Withdraw cash, ask about ATM locations, exchange money, fees, limits, and whether foreign cards work. A bank branch in Guangzhou. You need cash for the street markets, and the ATM outside won't take your card.
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.
-
请问哪里可以取现金？
Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ qǔ xiànjīn?
Excuse me, where can I withdraw cash?
- 请问Qǐngwèn
- 哪里nǎlǐ
- 可以kěyǐ
- 取qǔ
- 现金xiànjīn
-
我想取五百元。
Wǒ xiǎng qǔ wǔbǎi yuán.
I would like to withdraw 500 yuan.
- 我Wǒ
- 想xiǎng
- 取qǔ
- 五百wǔbǎi
- 元yuán
-
请问手续费是多少？
Qǐngwèn shǒuxùfèi shì duōshǎo?
Excuse me, how much is the service fee?
- 请问Qǐngwèn
- 手续费shǒuxùfèi
- 是shì
- 多少duōshǎo
-
请问这里可以换钱吗？
Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ huàn qián ma?
Excuse me, can I exchange money here?
- 请问Qǐngwèn
- 这里zhèlǐ
- 可以kěyǐ
- 换huàn
- 钱qián
- 吗ma
-
今天的汇率是多少？
Jīntiān de huìlǜ shì duōshǎo?
What is today’s exchange rate?
- 今天Jīntiān
- 的de
- 汇率huìlǜ
- 是shì
- 多少duōshǎo
-
换钱需要护照吗？
Huàn qián xūyào hùzhào ma?
Do I need my passport to exchange money?
- 换Huàn
- 钱qián
- 需要xūyào
- 护照hùzhào
- 吗ma
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
-
请问附近有 ATM 吗？
Qǐngwèn fùjìn yǒu ATM ma?
Excuse me, is there an ATM nearby?
-
附近的银行里面有 ATM。
Fùjìn de yínháng lǐmiàn yǒu ATM.
There is an ATM inside the nearby bank.
-
这个 ATM 可以用外国银行卡吗？
Zhège ATM kěyǐ yòng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma?
Can this ATM accept foreign bank cards?
-
我想取现金。
Wǒ xiǎng qǔ xiànjīn.
I would like to withdraw cash.
-
我想取一千元。
Wǒ xiǎng qǔ yìqiān yuán.
I would like to withdraw 1,000 yuan.
-
有额外手续费吗？
Yǒu éwài shǒuxùfèi ma?
Is there an extra fee?
-
单次最多可以取多少钱？
Dān cì zuìduō kěyǐ qǔ duōshǎo qián?
What is the maximum amount I can withdraw at one time?
-
每天最多可以取多少钱？
Měitiān zuìduō kěyǐ qǔ duōshǎo qián?
What is the daily withdrawal limit?
-
这个 ATM 没有出现金。
Zhège ATM méiyǒu chū xiànjīn.
This ATM did not dispense cash.
-
我的卡被 ATM 吞了。
Wǒ de kǎ bèi ATM tūn le.
The ATM swallowed my card.
-
请帮我联系银行工作人员。
Qǐng bāng wǒ liánxì yínháng gōngzuò rényuán.
Please help me contact bank staff.
-
我想换人民币。
Wǒ xiǎng huàn rénmínbì.
I would like to exchange for Chinese yuan.
-
这是我的护照。
Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
Here is my passport.
-
换钱有手续费吗？
Huàn qián yǒu shǒuxùfèi ma?
Is there a fee for exchanging money?
-
可以给我一张收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yì zhāng shōujù ma?
Could I have a receipt?
-
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
您好，办什么业务？Nín hǎo, bàn shénme yèwù?
Hello, what can we do for you?
You
请问这里可以换钱吗？Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ huàn qián ma?
Excuse me, can I exchange money here?
-
Staff
要护照，请先取个号。Yào hùzhào, qǐng xiān qǔ ge hào.
You'll need your passport. Please take a number first.
You
这是我的护照。Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
Here is my passport.
Play the scene
A bank branch in Guangzhou. You need cash for the street markets, and the ATM outside won't take your card.
-
Staff
您好，办什么业务？
Nín hǎo, bàn shénme yèwù?
Hello, what can we do for you?
-
You
请问这里可以换钱吗？
Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ huàn qián ma?
Excuse me, can I exchange money here?
What do you say?
-
Staff
可以，美元、欧元都能换。
Kěyǐ, Měiyuán, Ōuyuán dōu néng huàn.
Yes, we change both US dollars and euros.
-
You
今天的汇率是多少？
Jīntiān de huìlǜ shì duōshǎo?
What is today’s exchange rate?
What do you say?
-
Staff
汇率在那边的屏幕上。
Huìlǜ zài nàbiān de píngmù shàng.
The rates are on the screen over there.
-
You
换钱需要护照吗？
Huàn qián xūyào hùzhào ma?
Do I need my passport to exchange money?
What do you say?
-
Staff
要护照，请先取个号。
Yào hùzhào, qǐng xiān qǔ ge hào.
You'll need your passport. Please take a number first.
-
You
这是我的护照。
Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
Here is my passport.
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Use ATMs in safer locations
Prefer ATMs inside banks, hotels, airports, or shopping malls. Avoid isolated ATMs late at night.
Which phrase asks about the ATM service fee?
Show the answer
请问手续费是多少？ — Excuse me, how much is the service fee?
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
ATM An automated teller machine where you can withdraw cash, check your balance, or sometimes print a receipt.
取现金 To withdraw cash from an ATM or bank account.
外国银行卡 A bank card issued outside China. Some ATMs accept foreign cards, but not all cards or networks may work.
手续费 A service fee charged by the ATM, bank, card network, or your home bank.
限额 A withdrawal limit. ATMs may have a per-transaction limit and your bank may have a daily limit.
汇率 The exchange rate used when changing one currency into another.
ATM Withdrawal Checklist
Check card acceptance
Before trying, check whether the ATM accepts your card network. Some ATMs may display logos such as Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, Plus, or Cirrus.
Check fees
There may be a local ATM fee and a separate fee from your home bank. The ATM screen may not show every fee from your own bank.
Check withdrawal limits
If a large withdrawal fails, try a smaller amount. Your card issuer may also have a daily limit.
Keep the receipt
If there is a problem, a receipt or transaction record can help the bank investigate.
Currency Exchange Checklist
Ask if exchange is available
Banks, airports, and some exchange counters may provide currency exchange, but availability and hours vary.
Bring your passport
Currency exchange may require your passport or identity verification, especially at banks.
Check the exchange rate and fee
Ask both the exchange rate and whether there is a service fee before exchanging.
Count the cash before leaving
After exchanging money, count the cash and keep the receipt before leaving the counter.
Useful Question Patterns
请问附近有……吗？ Use this to ask whether something is nearby.
我想…… Use this to say what you would like to do.
……需要护照吗？ Use this to ask whether a passport is required for a service.
最多可以……多少？ Use this to ask about the maximum allowed amount.
Problem Handling
ATM did not dispense cash
Do not leave immediately if cash was not dispensed. Keep any receipt or error screen, and contact bank staff or your card issuer.
ATM swallowed your card
Stay near the ATM if safe, contact bank staff, and call your card issuer if needed to freeze or replace the card.
Withdrawal failed
Try a smaller amount, another ATM, or another card. Check whether your card allows overseas withdrawals.
Safety Tips
Use ATMs in safer locations
Prefer ATMs inside banks, hotels, airports, or shopping malls. Avoid isolated ATMs late at night.
Protect your PIN
Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Do not ask strangers to operate the ATM for you.
Take your card, cash, and receipt
Before leaving, make sure you have your card, cash, and receipt or transaction record.
Interactive Scenarios
Looking for an ATM
- Traveler请问附近有 ATM 吗？
Qǐngwèn fùjìn yǒu ATM ma?
Excuse me, is there an ATM nearby?
- Traveler这个 ATM 可以用外国银行卡吗？
Zhège ATM kěyǐ yòng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma?
Can this ATM accept foreign bank cards?
- Traveler我想取五百元。
Wǒ xiǎng qǔ wǔbǎi yuán.
I would like to withdraw 500 yuan.
Exchanging money at a bank
- Traveler请问这里可以换钱吗？
Qǐngwèn zhèlǐ kěyǐ huàn qián ma?
Excuse me, can I exchange money here?
- Traveler我想换人民币。
Wǒ xiǎng huàn rénmínbì.
I would like to exchange for Chinese yuan.
- Traveler今天的汇率是多少？
Jīntiān de huìlǜ shì duōshǎo?
What is today’s exchange rate?
ATM problem
- Traveler这个 ATM 没有出现金。
Zhège ATM méiyǒu chū xiànjīn.
This ATM did not dispense cash.
- Traveler我的卡被 ATM 吞了。
Wǒ de kǎ bèi ATM tūn le.
The ATM swallowed my card.
- Traveler请帮我联系银行工作人员。
Qǐng bāng wǒ liánxì yínháng gōngzuò rényuán.
Please help me contact bank staff.
Mini Quiz
How do you ask “Is there an ATM nearby?”
- 请问附近有 ATM 吗？ ✓ Answer
- 请问可以扫码付款吗？
- 我没有中国手机号。
Which phrase asks about the ATM service fee?
- 请问手续费是多少？ ✓ Answer
- 可以找零吗？
- 请问出口在哪里？
What do you say if the ATM swallowed your card?
- 我的卡被 ATM 吞了。 ✓ Answer
- 我的银行卡不能用。
- 我想买一张中国手机卡。
Which phrase asks for today’s exchange rate?
- 今天的汇率是多少？ ✓ Answer
- 这个套餐多少钱？
- 金额对吗？