Bank cards and cash in Chinese
Ask whether foreign bank cards, credit cards, cash, or small bills are accepted. A souvenir shop on Wangfujing, Beijing. Your card is declined, and all you have is a 100-yuan note.
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.
-
请问可以刷卡吗？
Qǐngwèn kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?
Excuse me, can I pay by card?
- 请问Qǐngwèn
- 可以kěyǐ
- 刷卡shuākǎ
- 吗ma
-
可以用外国银行卡吗？
Kěyǐ yòng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma?
Can I use a foreign bank card?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 用yòng
- 外国wàiguó
- 银行卡yínhángkǎ
- 吗ma
-
我的银行卡不能用。
Wǒ de yínhángkǎ bù néng yòng.
My bank card does not work.
- 我Wǒ
- 的de
- 银行卡yínhángkǎ
- 不bù
- 能néng
- 用yòng
-
请问可以用现金吗？
Qǐngwèn kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma?
Excuse me, can I pay with cash?
- 请问Qǐngwèn
- 可以kěyǐ
- 用yòng
- 现金xiànjīn
- 吗ma
-
可以找零吗？
Kěyǐ zhǎolíng ma?
Can you give change?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 找零zhǎolíng
- 吗ma
-
我可以用手机支付吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī zhīfù ma?
Can I pay with mobile payment?
- 我Wǒ
- 可以kěyǐ
- 用yòng
- 手机shǒujī
- 支付zhīfù
- 吗ma
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
-
可以用信用卡吗？
Kěyǐ yòng xìnyòngkǎ ma?
Can I use a credit card?
-
可以用 Visa 卡吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Visa kǎ ma?
Can I use a Visa card?
-
可以用 Mastercard 吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Mastercard ma?
Can I use Mastercard?
-
这里只支持银联吗？
Zhèlǐ zhǐ zhīchí Yínlián ma?
Do you only accept UnionPay here?
-
不好意思，我们这里只支持银联。
Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒmen zhèlǐ zhǐ zhīchí Yínlián.
Sorry, we only accept UnionPay here.
-
可以再试一次吗？
Kěyǐ zài shì yí cì ma?
Can we try again?
-
我可以换一张卡吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ huàn yì zhāng kǎ ma?
Can I use another card?
-
可以，但是请尽量用零钱。
Kěyǐ, dànshì qǐng jǐnliàng yòng língqián.
Yes, but please use small change if possible.
-
我没有零钱。
Wǒ méiyǒu língqián.
I don’t have small change.
-
我只有一百元。
Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yìbǎi yuán.
I only have 100 yuan.
-
可以帮我换成小面额吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ huànchéng xiǎo miàn'é ma?
Could you change this into smaller bills?
-
我可以用现金和银行卡一起付吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn hé yínhángkǎ yìqǐ fù ma?
Can I pay with both cash and bank card?
-
可以分开付款吗？
Kěyǐ fēnkāi fùkuǎn ma?
Can we pay separately?
-
附近有 ATM 吗？
Fùjìn yǒu ATM ma?
Is there an ATM nearby?
-
我可以先去取现金吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ xiān qù qǔ xiànjīn ma?
Can I go withdraw cash first?
-
可以给我一张收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yì zhāng shōujù ma?
Could I have a receipt?
-
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
一共六十八块。Yígòng liùshíbā kuài.
That's 68 yuan altogether.
You
请问可以刷卡吗？Qǐngwèn kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?
Excuse me, can I pay by card?
-
Staff
不好意思，这张卡刷不了。Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè zhāng kǎ shuā bu liǎo.
Sorry, this card won't go through.
You
我可以换一张卡吗？Wǒ kěyǐ huàn yì zhāng kǎ ma?
Can I use another card?
Play the scene
A souvenir shop on Wangfujing, Beijing. Your card is declined, and all you have is a 100-yuan note.
-
Staff
一共六十八块。
Yígòng liùshíbā kuài.
That's 68 yuan altogether.
-
You
请问可以刷卡吗？
Qǐngwèn kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?
Excuse me, can I pay by card?
What do you say?
-
Staff
不好意思，这张卡刷不了。
Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè zhāng kǎ shuā bu liǎo.
Sorry, this card won't go through.
-
You
请问可以用现金吗？
Qǐngwèn kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma?
Excuse me, can I pay with cash?
What do you say?
-
Traveler
可以，但是请尽量用零钱。
Kěyǐ, dànshì qǐng jǐnliàng yòng língqián.
Yes, but please use small change if possible.
-
You
我只有一百元。
Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yìbǎi yuán.
I only have 100 yuan.
What do you say?
-
Staff
没问题，找您三十二。
Méi wèntí, zhǎo nín sānshí'èr.
No problem. Here's 32 in change.
-
You
可以给我一张收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yì zhāng shōujù ma?
Could I have a receipt?
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Carry small bills if possible
Small shops, taxis, markets, and snack stands may have trouble giving change for large bills.
Which phrase means “Can you give change?”
Show the answer
可以找零吗？ — Can you give change?
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
刷卡 To pay by card. In Chinese, 刷卡 can mean swiping, inserting, tapping, or otherwise using a bank card for payment.
外国银行卡 A bank card issued outside China. Acceptance depends on the merchant, card network, bank, and payment terminal.
信用卡 A credit card. Some places accept international credit cards, but smaller shops may not.
银联 UnionPay, a major card payment network in China. Some merchants may accept UnionPay but not Visa or Mastercard.
现金 Cash. It can be useful as a backup when mobile payment or cards do not work.
找零 To give change after a cash payment.
When Cards Do Not Work
Try again once
Sometimes the first attempt fails because of the terminal, network, chip, or contactless issue. Ask: 可以再试一次吗？
Use another card
If one card fails, another card from a different network or bank may work.
Switch to mobile payment
If your Alipay or WeChat Pay works, ask: 我可以用手机支付吗？
Use cash
Cash can be useful in emergencies. Ask whether cash is accepted and whether they can give change.
Find an ATM
If you need cash, ask where the nearest ATM is. Some ATMs may not accept every foreign card.
Useful Question Patterns
可以用……吗？ Use this to ask whether a payment method or card type is accepted.
这里只支持……吗？ Use this to ask whether only one payment network or method is accepted.
我没有…… Use this to explain that you do not have something, such as small change.
可以帮我……吗？ Use this to politely ask someone to help you do something.
Cash Tips
Carry small bills if possible
Small shops, taxis, markets, and snack stands may have trouble giving change for large bills.
Ask before using large bills
If you only have 100 yuan, ask whether they can give change.
Keep emergency cash
Even if you use mobile payment, some cash can help when your phone battery dies, network fails, or a merchant does not accept cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will every shop accept foreign credit cards?
No. Large hotels, malls, and international chains are more likely to accept them, while small shops may only accept mobile payment, UnionPay, or cash.
What should I do if my card is declined?
Ask to try again, use another card, switch to mobile payment, or pay with cash.
Is cash still useful in China?
Yes, as a backup. Mobile payment is very common, but cash can help when phone payment, network, or cards fail.
What should I ask if I only have a large bill?
Say: 我只有一百元。可以找零吗？
Interactive Scenarios
Asking about foreign cards
- Traveler请问可以刷卡吗？
Qǐngwèn kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?
Excuse me, can I pay by card?
- Traveler可以用外国银行卡吗？
Kěyǐ yòng wàiguó yínhángkǎ ma?
Can I use a foreign bank card?
- Traveler可以用 Visa 卡吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Visa kǎ ma?
Can I use a Visa card?
Card does not work
- Traveler我的银行卡不能用。
Wǒ de yínhángkǎ bù néng yòng.
My bank card does not work.
- Traveler可以再试一次吗？
Kěyǐ zài shì yí cì ma?
Can we try again?
- Traveler我可以换一张卡吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ huàn yì zhāng kǎ ma?
Can I use another card?
Paying with cash
- Traveler请问可以用现金吗？
Qǐngwèn kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma?
Excuse me, can I pay with cash?
- Traveler我没有零钱。
Wǒ méiyǒu língqián.
I don’t have small change.
- Traveler可以找零吗？
Kěyǐ zhǎolíng ma?
Can you give change?
Mini Quiz
How do you ask “Can I pay by card?”
- 请问可以刷卡吗？ ✓ Answer
- 请问这里有 Wi-Fi 吗？
- 请问哪里可以买手机卡？
Which phrase asks if only UnionPay is accepted?
- 这里只支持银联吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以用现金吗？
- 可以找零吗？
What do you say if your bank card does not work?
- 我的银行卡不能用。 ✓ Answer
- 我想买一张中国手机卡。
- 我的行李还没有出来。
Which phrase means “Can you give change?”
- 可以找零吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以扫码付款吗？
- 可以用护照验证吗？