The bill, leftovers and invoice
Ask for the bill, pay, split the bill, pack leftovers, ask for a receipt or invoice, and confirm service charges. Dinner is over at a Shanghainese restaurant. Time to pay, split the bill and take the leftovers.
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.
-
服务员，您好，我们想结账。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo, wǒmen xiǎng jiézhàng.
Excuse me, we would like to pay the bill.
- 服务员Fúwùyuán
- 您nín
- 好hǎo
- 我们wǒmen
- 想xiǎng
- 结账jiézhàng
-
可以用支付宝付款吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fùkuǎn ma?
Can I pay with Alipay?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 用yòng
- 支付宝Zhīfùbǎo
- 付款fùkuǎn
- 吗ma
-
可以分开付款吗？
Kěyǐ fēnkāi fùkuǎn ma?
Can we pay separately?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 分开fēnkāi
- 付款fùkuǎn
- 吗ma
-
剩下的可以打包吗？
Shèngxià de kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?
Can we pack the leftovers?
- 剩下Shèngxià
- 的de
- 可以kěyǐ
- 打包dǎbāo
- 吗ma
-
可以给我一张收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yì zhāng shōujù ma?
Could I have a receipt?
- 可以Kěyǐ
- 给gěi
- 我wǒ
- 一yì
- 张zhāng
- 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.
-
请给我们账单。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen zhàngdān.
Please give us the bill.
-
可以看一下账单吗？
Kěyǐ kàn yíxià zhàngdān ma?
May I see the bill?
-
请帮我们确认一下金额。
Qǐng bāng wǒmen quèrèn yíxià jīn'é.
Please help us confirm the total amount.
-
这里面包含服务费吗？
Zhèlǐmiàn bāohán fúwùfèi ma?
Does this include the service charge?
-
可以用现金付款吗？
Kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn fùkuǎn ma?
Can I pay in cash?
-
可以用银行卡付款吗？
Kěyǐ yòng yínhángkǎ fùkuǎn ma?
Can I pay by bank card?
-
可以用微信支付付款吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn Zhīfù fùkuǎn ma?
Can I pay with WeChat Pay?
-
我可以扫码付款吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma?
Can I scan the code to pay?
-
请问付款码在哪里？
Qǐngwèn fùkuǎn mǎ zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the payment QR code?
-
我们想各付各的。
Wǒmen xiǎng gè fù gè de.
We would like to each pay for our own items.
-
我们想平均分摊。
Wǒmen xiǎng píngjūn fēntān.
We would like to split it evenly.
-
请帮我们打包。
Qǐng bāng wǒmen dǎbāo.
Please pack this for us.
-
可以给我们一个打包盒吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒmen yí ge dǎbāo hé ma?
Could you give us a takeaway box?
-
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?
-
请问小票可以给我吗？
Qǐngwèn xiǎopiào kěyǐ gěi wǒ ma?
Excuse me, could I have the printed 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
一共三百二十八块。Yígòng sānbǎi èrshíbā kuài.
That's 328 yuan in total.
You
可以用支付宝付款吗？Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fùkuǎn ma?
Can I pay with Alipay?
-
Staff
不好意思，只能一起付。Bù hǎoyìsi, zhǐ néng yìqǐ fù.
Sorry, you can only pay together.
You
可以用支付宝付款吗？Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fùkuǎn ma?
Can I pay with Alipay?
Play the scene
Dinner is over at a Shanghainese restaurant. Time to pay, split the bill and take the leftovers.
-
You
服务员，您好，我们想结账。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo, wǒmen xiǎng jiézhàng.
Excuse me, we would like to pay the bill.
What do you say?
-
Staff
一共三百二十八块。
Yígòng sānbǎi èrshíbā kuài.
That's 328 yuan in total.
-
You
可以分开付款吗？
Kěyǐ fēnkāi fùkuǎn ma?
Can we pay separately?
What do you say?
-
Staff
不好意思，只能一起付。
Bù hǎoyìsi, zhǐ néng yìqǐ fù.
Sorry, you can only pay together.
-
You
可以用支付宝付款吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fùkuǎn ma?
Can I pay with Alipay?
What do you say?
-
Staff
可以，请扫这个码。
Kěyǐ, qǐng sǎo zhège mǎ.
Sure, please scan this code.
-
You
剩下的可以打包吗？
Shèngxià de kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?
Can we pack the leftovers?
What do you say?
-
Staff
可以，给您打包盒。
Kěyǐ, gěi nín dǎbāohé.
Sure, here's a takeaway box.
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Invoice
发票 is an official invoice often needed for business reimbursement or formal records. Some restaurants issue it electronically.
Which phrase asks if Alipay is accepted?
Show the answer
可以用支付宝付款吗？ — Can I pay with Alipay?
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
结账 To pay the bill at a restaurant. You can say 我们想结账 when you are ready to pay.
账单 The bill or check showing what you ordered and the total amount.
金额 The total amount of money to pay. Use this if you want staff to confirm the final price.
服务费 A service charge. Some restaurants include it in the bill, while others do not charge it.
扫码付款 To scan a QR code to pay. This is common in China, especially with Alipay or WeChat Pay.
打包 To pack food to take away. Use this for leftovers or takeaway food.
Payment Flow
Step 1: Ask for the bill
Say 服务员，您好，我们想结账 or 请给我们账单. Both are common and polite.
Step 2: Check the amount
Before paying, check whether the bill is correct and whether it includes a service charge.
Step 3: Choose a payment method
Ask whether cash, bank card, Alipay, WeChat Pay, or QR-code payment is accepted.
Step 4: Ask for receipt or invoice
Ask for a receipt, printed receipt, or invoice if you need proof of payment or reimbursement.
Useful Payment Patterns
可以用……付款吗？ Use this to ask whether a payment method is accepted.
请问……在哪里？ Use this to ask where something is, such as the payment QR code.
可以分开付款吗？ Use this to ask whether multiple people can pay separately.
可以给我……吗？ Use this to ask for a receipt, invoice, ticket, or container.
Splitting the Bill
Pay separately
Use 可以分开付款吗？ when each person wants to pay separately. Some restaurants may not support this.
Each pays their own items
Use 我们想各付各的 if each person wants to pay for what they ordered.
Split evenly
Use 我们想平均分摊 if the group wants to split the total equally.
Packing Leftovers
Ask whether packing is possible
Use 剩下的可以打包吗？ before leaving if you have leftovers.
Ask staff to pack it
Use 请帮我们打包 if you want staff to pack the food for you.
Ask for a takeaway box
Use 可以给我们一个打包盒吗？ if you want to pack the food yourself.
Receipt and Invoice Tips
Receipt
A receipt is proof of payment. Ask 可以给我一张收据吗？ if you need one.
Printed receipt
小票 usually refers to the printed receipt from the cashier or payment system.
Invoice
发票 is an official invoice often needed for business reimbursement or formal records. Some restaurants issue it electronically.
Interactive Scenarios
Paying the bill
- Traveler服务员，您好，我们想结账。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo, wǒmen xiǎng jiézhàng.
Excuse me, we would like to pay the bill.
- Traveler可以看一下账单吗？
Kěyǐ kàn yíxià zhàngdān ma?
May I see the bill?
- Traveler可以用支付宝付款吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fùkuǎn ma?
Can I pay with Alipay?
Splitting the bill
- Traveler可以分开付款吗？
Kěyǐ fēnkāi fùkuǎn ma?
Can we pay separately?
- Traveler我们想各付各的。
Wǒmen xiǎng gè fù gè de.
We would like to each pay for our own items.
- Traveler我们想平均分摊。
Wǒmen xiǎng píngjūn fēntān.
We would like to split it evenly.
Packing leftovers and asking for receipt
- Traveler剩下的可以打包吗？
Shèngxià de kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?
Can we pack the leftovers?
- Traveler请帮我们打包。
Qǐng bāng wǒmen dǎbāo.
Please pack this for us.
- Traveler可以给我一张收据吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yì zhāng shōujù ma?
Could I have a receipt?
Mini Quiz
How do you say “We would like to pay the bill”?
- 我们想结账。 ✓ Answer
- 我们想加菜。
- 我们想坐禁烟区。
Which phrase asks if Alipay is accepted?
- 可以用支付宝付款吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以用现金付款吗？
- 可以分开付款吗？
What do you say to ask to pack leftovers?
- 剩下的可以打包吗？ ✓ Answer
- 请给我们账单。
- 这里面包含服务费吗？
Which phrase asks for an invoice?
- 可以开发票吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以给我们一个打包盒吗？
- 可以扫码付款吗？