"Pay for the bill" in Chinese
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:18 pm
Years ago, when people wanted to pay the bill, “算账 (suànzhàng)” was the popular phrase, but now “买单 (mǎidān),” originating from Cantonese, has taken over as the commonplace term.
Examples:
Jīntiān wǒ mǎidān, dàjiā jǐnguǎn chī ba.
今天 我 买单,大家 尽管 吃 吧。
I’ll pay for the bill today, just enjoy yourselves.
Beside that, people also use “算账 (suànzhàng)” as a term for getting revenge or sorting somebody out.
Examples:
Nǐ zhècì rě lǎobǎn shēngqì, tā yídìng huì zhǎo nǐ suànzhàng de.
你 这次 惹 老板 生气,他 一定 会 找 你 算账 的。
You really made the boss angry this time; he’ll sort you out for sure.
Examples:
Jīntiān wǒ mǎidān, dàjiā jǐnguǎn chī ba.
今天 我 买单,大家 尽管 吃 吧。
I’ll pay for the bill today, just enjoy yourselves.
Beside that, people also use “算账 (suànzhàng)” as a term for getting revenge or sorting somebody out.
Examples:
Nǐ zhècì rě lǎobǎn shēngqì, tā yídìng huì zhǎo nǐ suànzhàng de.
你 这次 惹 老板 生气,他 一定 会 找 你 算账 的。
You really made the boss angry this time; he’ll sort you out for sure.