Chinese for Travel
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Unit 4 · Taxi Lesson 25 7 min Premium in the app

Paying the fare and getting a receipt

Ask about fare, meter, cash, mobile payment, card, receipt or invoice, overcharge, tolls, and payment confirmation. Pulling up at Guangzhou South Station with a train to catch. Pay fast, and get a receipt for your expenses.

车费

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.

  • 车费多少钱？

    Chēfèi duōshǎo qián?

    How much is the fare?

    • 车费Chēfèi
    • 多少duōshǎo
    • 钱qián

  • 可以打表吗？

    Kěyǐ dǎbiǎo ma?

    Can you use the meter?

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 打表dǎbiǎo
    • 吗ma

  • 可以手机支付吗？

    Kěyǐ shǒujī zhīfù ma?

    Can I pay by mobile phone?

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 手机shǒujī
    • 支付zhīfù
    • 吗ma

  • 我已经付款了。

    Wǒ yǐjīng fùkuǎn le.

    I have already paid.

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

  • 可以给我小票吗？

    Kěyǐ gěi wǒ xiǎopiào ma?

    Can you give me a receipt?

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 给gěi
    • 我wǒ
    • 小票xiǎopiào
    • 吗ma

  • 这个费用包括高速费吗？

    Zhège fèiyòng bāokuò gāosù fèi ma?

    Does this fare include the highway toll?

    • 这个Zhège
    • 费用fèiyòng
    • 包括bāokuò
    • 高速gāosù
    • 费fèi
    • 吗ma

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 请问大概多少钱？

    Qǐngwèn dàgài duōshǎo qián?

    Excuse me, about how much will it cost?

  • 请按计价器收费。

    Qǐng àn jìjiàqì shōufèi.

    Please charge according to the meter.

  • 可以用现金吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma?

    Can I pay with cash?

  • 可以用银行卡吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng yínhángkǎ ma?

    Can I pay by bank card?

  • 可以用支付宝吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?

    Can I use Alipay?

  • 可以用微信支付吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn Zhīfù ma?

    Can I use WeChat Pay?

  • 请给我看一下付款码。

    Qǐng gěi wǒ kàn yíxià fùkuǎn mǎ.

    Please show me the payment QR code.

  • 付款成功了吗？

    Fùkuǎn chénggōng le ma?

    Was the payment successful?

  • 可以开发票吗？

    Kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma?

    Can you issue an invoice?

  • 我需要电子发票。

    Wǒ xūyào diànzǐ fāpiào.

    I need an electronic invoice.

  • 还有其他费用吗？

    Hái yǒu qítā fèiyòng ma?

    Are there any other charges?

  • 这个价格和订单不一样。

    Zhège jiàgé hé dìngdān bù yíyàng.

    This price is different from the order.

  • 是不是重复扣款了？

    Shì bu shì chóngfù kòukuǎn le?

    Was I charged twice?

  • 我想确认一下费用。

    Wǒ xiǎng quèrèn yíxià fèiyòng.

    I would like to confirm the charges.

  • 请帮我联系平台客服。

    Qǐng bāng wǒ liánxì píngtái kèfú.

    Please help me contact the platform customer service.

  • 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.

  1. Staff

    到了，南站到了。

    Dào le, Nánzhàn dào le.

    Here we are, South Station.

    You

    车费多少钱？

    Chēfèi duōshǎo qián?

    How much is the fare?

  2. Staff

    扫这个码，微信支付宝都行。

    Sǎo zhège mǎ, Wēixìn Zhīfùbǎo dōu xíng.

    Scan this code. WeChat or Alipay, either works.

    You

    我已经付款了。

    Wǒ yǐjīng fùkuǎn le.

    I have already paid.

Play the scene

Pulling up at Guangzhou South Station with a train to catch. Pay fast, and get a receipt for your expenses.

广州南站 · Guangzhou South Station

  1. Staff

    到了，南站到了。

    Dào le, Nánzhàn dào le.

    Here we are, South Station.

  2. You

    车费多少钱？

    Chēfèi duōshǎo qián?

    How much is the fare?

  3. Staff

    打表六十五，加高速费十块。

    Dǎbiǎo liùshíwǔ, jiā gāosù fèi shí kuài.

    Sixty-five on the meter, plus ten for the toll.

  4. You

    可以手机支付吗？

    Kěyǐ shǒujī zhīfù ma?

    Can I pay by mobile phone?

  5. Staff

    扫这个码，微信支付宝都行。

    Sǎo zhège mǎ, Wēixìn Zhīfùbǎo dōu xíng.

    Scan this code. WeChat or Alipay, either works.

  6. You

    我已经付款了。

    Wǒ yǐjīng fùkuǎn le.

    I have already paid.

  7. Staff

    收到了，谢谢。

    Shōu dào le, xièxie.

    Got it, thanks.

  8. You

    可以给我小票吗？

    Kěyǐ gěi wǒ xiǎopiào ma?

    Can you give me a receipt?

Culture tip

Highway tolls and extra charges

Highway tolls, parking fees, or waiting fees may be separate. Ask if they are included.

Which phrase asks the driver to use the meter?

Show the answer

可以打表吗？ — Can you use the meter?

Go deeper

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

Key Payment Terms

车费 Taxi or ride fare. Use this word when asking how much the trip costs.

车费多少钱？ Chēfèi duōshǎo qián? How much is the fare?

打表 / 计价器 To use the taxi meter / taxi meter. This helps make sure the fare is calculated officially.

可以打表吗？ Kěyǐ dǎbiǎo ma? Can you use the meter?

现金 / 银行卡 / 手机支付 Cash, bank card, and mobile payment. Ask in advance which payment method is accepted.

可以手机支付吗？ Kěyǐ shǒujī zhīfù ma? Can I pay by mobile phone?

支付宝 / 微信支付 Alipay and WeChat Pay. These are common mobile payment methods in China.

可以用支付宝吗？ Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma? Can I use Alipay?

小票 / 发票 / 电子发票 Receipt, invoice, and electronic invoice. A receipt may be enough for simple records, while an invoice may be needed for reimbursement.

可以开发票吗？ Kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma? Can you issue an invoice?

重复扣款 Duplicate charge. Use this when you think the same ride or payment was charged twice.

是不是重复扣款了？ Shì bu shì chóngfù kòukuǎn le? Was I charged twice?

Payment Flow

Step 1: Ask the fare

Ask 车费多少钱？ at the end, or 请问大概多少钱？ before the ride if you want an estimate.

Step 2: Confirm meter or app price

For taxis, ask 可以打表吗？ For ride-hailing, compare the final price with the order.

Step 3: Choose payment method

Ask whether cash, bank card, Alipay, WeChat Pay, or mobile payment is accepted.

Step 4: Confirm payment success

After paying, say 我已经付款了 and ask 付款成功了吗？ if you need confirmation.

Step 5: Ask for receipt or invoice

Ask for a receipt, invoice, or electronic invoice depending on what you need for records or reimbursement.

Useful Payment Patterns

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

可以用现金吗？ Kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma? Can I pay with cash?

可以……吗？ Use this to ask whether the driver can use the meter, give a receipt, or issue an invoice.

可以开发票吗？ Kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma? Can you issue an invoice?

这个费用包括……吗？ Use this to ask whether a certain charge is included in the fare.

这个费用包括高速费吗？ Zhège fèiyòng bāokuò gāosù fèi ma? Does this fare include the highway toll?

我想确认一下…… Use this when you want to double-check fare, charges, route, or payment.

我想确认一下费用。 Wǒ xiǎng quèrèn yíxià fèiyòng. I would like to confirm the charges.

Fare and Extra Charge Tips

Metered taxi fare

In a regular taxi, using the meter is usually the standard way to calculate fare.

Highway tolls and extra charges

Highway tolls, parking fees, or waiting fees may be separate. Ask if they are included.

Different from app order

If the final price is different from the app order, point it out politely and contact platform customer service if needed.

Payment Issue Tips

Payment confirmation

After scanning a QR code or paying in an app, confirm whether the driver received the payment.

Duplicate charge

If you see two charges, do not pay again immediately. Confirm the order and contact platform customer service.

Need invoice for reimbursement

If you need reimbursement, ask for an invoice or electronic invoice before leaving the car.

Interactive Scenarios

Paying the fare

  • Traveler车费多少钱？

    Chēfèi duōshǎo qián?

    How much is the fare?

  • Traveler可以手机支付吗？

    Kěyǐ shǒujī zhīfù ma?

    Can I pay by mobile phone?

  • Traveler付款成功了吗？

    Fùkuǎn chénggōng le ma?

    Was the payment successful?

Asking for invoice

  • Traveler可以给我小票吗？

    Kěyǐ gěi wǒ xiǎopiào ma?

    Can you give me a receipt?

  • Traveler可以开发票吗？

    Kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma?

    Can you issue an invoice?

  • Traveler我需要电子发票。

    Wǒ xūyào diànzǐ fāpiào.

    I need an electronic invoice.

Fare problem

  • Traveler这个价格和订单不一样。

    Zhège jiàgé hé dìngdān bù yíyàng.

    This price is different from the order.

  • Traveler是不是重复扣款了？

    Shì bu shì chóngfù kòukuǎn le?

    Was I charged twice?

  • Traveler请帮我联系平台客服。

    Qǐng bāng wǒ liánxì píngtái kèfú.

    Please help me contact the platform customer service.

Mini Quiz

How do you ask “How much is the fare?”
  • 车费多少钱？ ✓ Answer
  • 车牌号多少？
  • 车站在哪里？
Which phrase asks the driver to use the meter?
  • 可以打表吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 可以上车吗？
  • 可以开发票吗？
How do you ask whether you can use WeChat Pay?
  • 可以用微信支付吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 可以用现金吗？
  • 可以用地图吗？
Which phrase means “Was I charged twice?”
  • 是不是重复扣款了？ ✓ Answer
  • 是不是快到了？
  • 是不是可以上车？

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