买单
mǎidān
pay the bill
买单 is a common restaurant phrase for asking to pay the bill. It is useful at the end of a meal or café visit.
Example sentences
服务员，买单。
Fúwùyuán, mǎidān.
Waiter, the bill please.
请问，可以买单吗？
Qǐngwèn, kěyǐ mǎidān ma?
Excuse me, can I pay the bill?
How to use 买单 in practice
买单 is a restaurant item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin mǎidān, then connect it to the meaning “pay the bill” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 服务员，买单。 / 请问，可以买单吗？.
When you practice 买单, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 买单 only as “pay the bill” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Restaurant conversation, start a short conversation, and use 买单 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 买单 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only mǎidān, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
Is 买单 used everywhere?
It is widely understood. 结账 is another common way to say pay the bill.
How can I remember 买单 faster?
Say 买单 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 买单 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 买单 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach