Chinese for Travel
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Unit 3 · Payment Lesson 18 5 min Premium in the app

Paying by QR code in Chinese

Learn how to scan a merchant QR code, show your payment code, confirm the amount, and ask whether payment succeeded. A food stall in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter. Two QR codes are taped to the counter, and the queue behind you is moving fast.

扫码

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.

  • 请问可以扫码付款吗？

    Qǐngwèn kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma?

    Excuse me, can I pay by scanning a QR code?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 扫码sǎomǎ
    • 付款fùkuǎn
    • 吗ma

  • 我应该扫哪个二维码？

    Wǒ yīnggāi sǎo nǎge èrwéimǎ?

    Which QR code should I scan?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 应该yīnggāi
    • 扫sǎo
    • 哪个nǎge
    • 二维码èrwéimǎ

  • 请问金额是多少？

    Qǐngwèn jīn'é shì duōshǎo?

    Excuse me, what is the amount?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 金额jīn'é
    • 是shì
    • 多少duōshǎo

  • 我已经付款了。

    Wǒ yǐjīng fùkuǎn le.

    I have already paid.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 已经yǐjīng
    • 付款fùkuǎn
    • 了le

  • 请问付款成功了吗？

    Qǐngwèn fùkuǎn chénggōng le ma?

    Excuse me, was the payment successful?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 付款fùkuǎn
    • 成功chénggōng
    • 了le
    • 吗ma

  • 我应该扫您，还是您扫我？

    Wǒ yīnggāi sǎo nín, háishì nín sǎo wǒ?

    Should I scan your code, or should you scan mine?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 应该yīnggāi
    • 扫sǎo
    • 您nín
    • 还是háishì
    • 您nín
    • 扫sǎo
    • 我wǒ

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 可以，您扫这个二维码。

    Kěyǐ, nín sǎo zhège èrwéimǎ.

    Yes. Please scan this QR code.

  • 一共八十八元。

    Yígòng bāshíbā yuán.

    The total is 88 yuan.

  • 我确认一下金额。

    Wǒ quèrèn yíxià jīn'é.

    Let me confirm the amount.

  • 金额对吗？

    Jīn'é duì ma?

    Is the amount correct?

  • 付款成功了，谢谢。

    Fùkuǎn chénggōng le, xièxie.

    The payment was successful, thank you.

  • 我这里显示付款成功。

    Wǒ zhèlǐ xiǎnshì fùkuǎn chénggōng.

    It shows that the payment was successful on my phone.

  • 需要看付款记录吗？

    Xūyào kàn fùkuǎn jìlù ma?

    Do you need to see the payment record?

  • 我可以给您看付款截图。

    Wǒ kěyǐ gěi nín kàn fùkuǎn jiétú.

    I can show you the payment screenshot.

  • 请出示您的付款码。

    Qǐng chūshì nín de fùkuǎn mǎ.

    Please show your payment code.

  • 这是我的付款码。

    Zhè shì wǒ de fùkuǎn mǎ.

    This is my payment code.

  • 付款失败了。

    Fùkuǎn shībài le.

    The payment failed.

  • 我可以再试一次吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ zài shì yí cì ma?

    Can I try again?

  • 我可以换一种付款方式吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ huàn yì zhǒng fùkuǎn fāngshì ma?

    Can I use another payment method?

  • 我可以用现金付款吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn fùkuǎn ma?

    Can I pay with cash?

  • 我可以用银行卡付款吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ yòng yínhángkǎ fùkuǎn ma?

    Can I pay by bank card?

  • 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.

  1. Staff

    肉夹馍两个，三十块。

    Ròujiāmó liǎng ge, sānshí kuài.

    Two roujiamo, that's thirty yuan.

    You

    请问可以扫码付款吗？

    Qǐngwèn kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma?

    Excuse me, can I pay by scanning a QR code?

  2. Staff

    我扫您吧，打开付款码。

    Wǒ sǎo nín ba, dǎkāi fùkuǎn mǎ.

    I'll scan you. Open your payment code.

    You

    这是我的付款码。

    Zhè shì wǒ de fùkuǎn mǎ.

    This is my payment code.

Play the scene

A food stall in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter. Two QR codes are taped to the counter, and the queue behind you is moving fast.

西安·回民街 · Muslim Quarter, Xi'an

  1. Staff

    肉夹馍两个，三十块。

    Ròujiāmó liǎng ge, sānshí kuài.

    Two roujiamo, that's thirty yuan.

  2. You

    请问可以扫码付款吗？

    Qǐngwèn kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma?

    Excuse me, can I pay by scanning a QR code?

  3. Traveler

    可以，您扫这个二维码。

    Kěyǐ, nín sǎo zhège èrwéimǎ.

    Yes. Please scan this QR code.

  4. You

    我应该扫哪个二维码？

    Wǒ yīnggāi sǎo nǎge èrwéimǎ?

    Which QR code should I scan?

  5. Staff

    扫左边这个，是支付宝的。

    Sǎo zuǒbiān zhège, shì Zhīfùbǎo de.

    Scan the one on the left. That's the Alipay one.

  6. You

    我已经付款了。

    Wǒ yǐjīng fùkuǎn le.

    I have already paid.

  7. Staff

    还没到账，您等一下。

    Hái méi dào zhàng, nín děng yíxià.

    It hasn't come through yet. Hang on a moment.

  8. You

    我这里显示付款成功。

    Wǒ zhèlǐ xiǎnshì fùkuǎn chénggōng.

    It shows that the payment was successful on my phone.

Culture tip

Avoid duplicate payments

If the app is loading or the merchant system is slow, wait and confirm before paying again.

What should you say when showing your payment code?

Show the answer

这是我的付款码。 — This is my payment code.

Go deeper

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

Key Terms

扫码付款 Paying by scanning a merchant’s QR code with a payment app such as Alipay or WeChat Pay.

请问可以扫码付款吗？ Qǐngwèn kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma? Excuse me, can I pay by scanning a QR code?

二维码 A QR code used for payment, login, menus, tickets, or information. For payment, make sure you scan the correct merchant code.

我应该扫哪个二维码？ Wǒ yīnggāi sǎo nǎge èrwéimǎ? Which QR code should I scan?

付款码 A payment code shown on your phone for the cashier to scan. It is different from scanning the merchant’s QR code yourself.

这是我的付款码。 Zhè shì wǒ de fùkuǎn mǎ. This is my payment code.

金额 The payment amount. Always confirm the amount before paying.

金额对吗？ Jīn'é duì ma? Is the amount correct?

付款成功 The payment went through successfully. You can ask the merchant to confirm on their side.

请问付款成功了吗？ Qǐngwèn fùkuǎn chénggōng le ma? Excuse me, was the payment successful?

付款失败 The payment did not go through. It may be caused by internet, card, app, amount, or merchant restrictions.

付款失败了。 Fùkuǎn shībài le. The payment failed.

Two Common QR Payment Methods

You scan the merchant’s QR code

The merchant shows a QR code. You scan it, enter or confirm the amount, and pay.

The merchant scans your payment code

You open your payment code in the app and show it to the cashier. Do not share your payment code with random people.

When you are not sure

Ask: 我应该扫您，还是您扫我？ This helps clarify the payment flow.

Useful Question Patterns

可以……吗？ Use this to ask whether something is allowed or possible.

请问可以扫码付款吗？ Qǐngwèn kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma? Excuse me, can I pay by scanning a QR code?

请问……是多少？ Use this to ask for a number, amount, price, or total.

请问金额是多少？ Qǐngwèn jīn'é shì duōshǎo? Excuse me, what is the amount?

我已经……了。 Use this to say you have already done something.

我已经付款了。 Wǒ yǐjīng fùkuǎn le. I have already paid.

我可以换一种……吗？ Use this to ask whether you can switch to another method or option.

我可以换一种付款方式吗？ Wǒ kěyǐ huàn yì zhǒng fùkuǎn fāngshì ma? Can I use another payment method?

Payment Confirmation Tips

Confirm before paying

Check the amount before confirming payment. Use: 金额对吗？

Confirm after paying

Ask the merchant whether the payment succeeded. Sometimes your phone and the merchant’s system may update at different speeds.

Show payment record if needed

If the merchant cannot see the payment, you can show the payment result or transaction record on your phone.

If payment fails

Ask to try again or use another payment method. Do not pay repeatedly unless you are sure previous attempts failed.

Safety and Privacy Tips

Protect your payment code

A payment code can be used to charge your account. Only show it to the cashier when you are ready to pay.

Check the merchant name

When scanning a QR code, check that the merchant name and amount match before confirming.

Avoid duplicate payments

If the app is loading or the merchant system is slow, wait and confirm before paying again.

Interactive Scenarios

You scan the merchant QR code

  • Traveler请问可以扫码付款吗？

    Qǐngwèn kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma?

    Excuse me, can I pay by scanning a QR code?

  • Traveler我应该扫哪个二维码？

    Wǒ yīnggāi sǎo nǎge èrwéimǎ?

    Which QR code should I scan?

  • Traveler金额对吗？

    Jīn'é duì ma?

    Is the amount correct?

Merchant scans your payment code

  • Staff请出示您的付款码。

    Qǐng chūshì nín de fùkuǎn mǎ.

    Please show your payment code.

  • Traveler这是我的付款码。

    Zhè shì wǒ de fùkuǎn mǎ.

    This is my payment code.

  • Traveler请问付款成功了吗？

    Qǐngwèn fùkuǎn chénggōng le ma?

    Excuse me, was the payment successful?

Payment failed

  • Traveler付款失败了。

    Fùkuǎn shībài le.

    The payment failed.

  • Traveler我可以再试一次吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ zài shì yí cì ma?

    Can I try again?

  • Traveler我可以换一种付款方式吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ huàn yì zhǒng fùkuǎn fāngshì ma?

    Can I use another payment method?

Mini Quiz

How do you ask “Can I pay by scanning a QR code?”
  • 请问可以扫码付款吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 请问哪里可以买手机卡？
  • 请问出口在哪里？
Which phrase means “Is the amount correct?”
  • 金额对吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 付款失败了。
  • 这是我的付款码。
What should you say when showing your payment code?
  • 这是我的付款码。 ✓ Answer
  • 我没有中国手机号。
  • 我的手机没有信号。
Which phrase is useful if the payment failed?
  • 我可以换一种付款方式吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 这个套餐包含多少流量？
  • 请问行李提取处在哪里？

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