èrwéimǎ: 二维码 - QR Code

• Keywords: erweima, 二维码, QR code in China, how to use QR codes in China, WeChat Pay QR code, Alipay QR code, Chinese payment system, what is erweima, scan to pay, mobile payments China, cashless society.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of “二维码” (èrwéimǎ), the Chinese term for QR code. This page explains why the simple QR code is the key to modern life in China, powering everything from mobile payments on WeChat and Alipay to adding friends and renting bikes. Learn how this technology has created a nearly cashless society and how to use it practically during your travels or studies.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): èrwéimǎ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A two-dimensional barcode; a QR code.
• In a Nutshell: While QR codes exist everywhere, in China, “二维码” is not just a link to a website—it's the fundamental building block of daily digital life. It is the primary tool for paying for goods, connecting with people, and accessing services. For a beginner, understanding and using “二维码” is one of the most essential skills for navigating modern China.

• 二 (èr): The character for “two” or “second.”
• 维 (wéi): A character meaning “dimension” or “to link/tie.” In this context, it clearly means “dimension.”
• 码 (mǎ): A character meaning “code,” “number,” or “yard” (as in the unit of measurement). Here, it means “code.”

These three characters combine literally and logically to form “two-dimensional code” (二 + 维 + 码), which is the precise technical description of a QR code.

The “二维码” is more than just a piece of technology; it's a symbol of China's rapid, mobile-first modernization. While Western countries experienced a gradual transition from cash to cards to contactless payments, China largely leapfrogged the credit card era, jumping straight from cash to mobile payments facilitated by the “二维码”. Comparison to the West: In the US or Europe, QR codes are often seen as a marketing tool, a link to a restaurant menu, or a way to download an app. Their use is sporadic and often considered a minor convenience. In China, the “二维码” is an absolute necessity. It is deeply integrated into “super-apps” like WeChat (微信) and Alipay (支付宝), which combine social media, banking, and a vast array of services. The “二维码” acts as the bridge between the physical world and this all-encompassing digital ecosystem. This reflects a cultural acceptance of rapid technological adoption and a pragmatic approach to commerce. The ubiquity of “二维码” has transformed China into one of the world's leading cashless societies, a feat that showcases a unique path of development.

The “二维码” is used in countless situations. Here are the most critical ones:

This is the most common use. You can pay for virtually anything, from a high-end restaurant meal to a single piece of fruit from a street vendor.

• Scanning the Merchant: You open your WeChat or Alipay app, tap the scan function (扫一扫 - sǎo yī sǎo), and scan the merchant's printed “二维码”. You then enter the amount and your password to pay.
• Showing Your Code: For larger retailers like supermarkets, you generate your personal payment code (付款码 - fùkuǎn mǎ) on your phone, and the cashier scans it with a barcode gun.

Instead of exchanging phone numbers or business cards, it is extremely common to add someone as a contact on WeChat by scanning their personal “二维码”. It's the standard, efficient way to connect in both social and professional settings.

• Restaurants: Many restaurants have a “二维码” on the table. You scan it to view the menu, place your order, and pay, all without interacting with a waiter.
• Transportation: You scan a “二维码” to unlock shared bikes (共享单车 - gòngxiǎng dānchē) or to pay for bus and subway fares in many cities.
• Information and Logins: Scan a “二维码” to follow an official brand account on WeChat, join a group chat, connect to Wi-Fi, or log into a website on a computer.

Example 1: 我可以用微信扫二维码支付吗？ Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn sǎo èrwéimǎ zhīfù ma? English: Can I use WeChat to scan the QR code to pay? Analysis: A crucial, practical question you'll use daily. “扫 (sǎo)” means “to scan.” Example 2: 老板，二维码在哪里？我要买单。 Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, èrwéimǎ zài nǎlǐ? Wǒ yào mǎidān. English: Boss, where is the QR code? I want to pay the bill. Analysis: “老板 (lǎobǎn)” is a common way to address a shopkeeper or restaurant owner. “买单 (mǎidān)” means to pay the bill. Example 3: 我们加个微信吧，你扫我的二维码。 Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā ge Wēixìn ba, nǐ sǎo wǒ de èrwéimǎ. English: Let's add each other on WeChat. You can scan my QR code. Analysis: This is the standard phrase for exchanging contacts in China. “加个微信 (jiā ge Wēixìn)” literally means “add a WeChat.” Example 4: 请出示您的付款二维码。 Pinyin: Qǐng chūshì nín de fùkuǎn èrwéimǎ. English: Please show your payment QR code. Analysis: A more formal sentence you might hear from a cashier in a supermarket. “出示 (chūshì)” means “to show” or “to present.” Example 5: 这个二维码好像过期了，扫不出来。 Pinyin: Zhège èrwéimǎ hǎoxiàng guòqī le, sǎo bù chūlái. English: This QR code seems to be expired; it won't scan. Analysis: “扫不出来 (sǎo bù chūlái)” is a resultative complement, meaning the action of scanning cannot produce the desired result. Example 6: 你扫桌上的二维码就可以点餐了。 Pinyin: Nǐ sǎo zhuō shàng de èrwéimǎ jiù kěyǐ diǎncān le. English: You can scan the QR code on the table to order food. Analysis: A common instruction in modern Chinese restaurants. “点餐 (diǎncān)” means “to order food.” Example 7: 为了解锁共享单车，你需要扫描车上的二维码。 Pinyin: Wèile jiěsuǒ gòngxiǎng dānchē, nǐ xūyào sǎomiáo chē shàng de èrwéimǎ. English: To unlock the shared bike, you need to scan the QR code on the bike. Analysis: “解锁 (jiěsuǒ)” means “to unlock,” and “共享单车 (gòngxiǎng dānchē)” is a shared bike. Example 8: 不好意思，我手机没电了，没法用二维码付款。 Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ shǒujī méi diàn le, méi fǎ yòng èrwéimǎ fùkuǎn. English: Excuse me, my phone is out of battery, so I can't use the QR code to pay. Analysis: A potential problem in a cashless society. “没法 (méi fǎ)” is a colloquial way of saying “no way to” or “can't.” Example 9: 这是我们公司的微信公众号二维码，欢迎关注。 Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen gōngsī de Wēixìn gōngzhònghào èrwéimǎ, huānyíng guānzhù. English: This is the QR code for our company's WeChat official account. You're welcome to follow us. Analysis: “公众号 (gōngzhònghào)” is an official account, similar to a Facebook page for businesses. “关注 (guānzhù)” means “to follow.” Example 10: 我把群的二维码发给你，你扫一下就能加入了。 Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ qún de èrwéimǎ fā gěi nǐ, nǐ sǎo yīxià jiù néng jiārù le. English: I'll send you the group's QR code, you can just scan it to join. Analysis: The “把 (bǎ)” structure is used here to emphasize the disposal of the object (“the group's QR code”).

• Not Just for Payments: The biggest mistake for foreigners is assuming “二维码” is only for money. It's equally important for social networking, accessing information, and logistics. Not being ready to scan a QR code to add a friend can be a social misstep.
• Two Types of Payment Codes: It's crucial to understand the difference between:
  • 收款码 (shōukuǎn mǎ) - Receiving Code: This is the merchant's static, printed QR code that you scan. It is safe.
  • 付款码 (fùkuǎn mǎ) - Payment Code: This is your personal, dynamically generated QR code that a merchant scans. NEVER screenshot this code or send it to anyone. A scammer could use it to take money directly from your account.
• “Scanning” is Assumed: People will often just say “微信 (Wēixìn)” or “支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo)?” when asking how you want to pay. The action of scanning a “二维码” is implied and understood by everyone.

• 扫一扫 (sǎo yī sǎo) - “Scan,” the colloquial verb/command for scanning a QR code.
• 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù) - WeChat Pay, one of the two dominant mobile payment platforms.
• 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo) - Alipay, the other major mobile payment platform, owned by Alibaba group.
• 付款码 (fùkuǎn mǎ) - Payment code; the QR code on your phone that you show to a merchant to have them scan.
• 收款码 (shōukuǎn mǎ) - Receiving code; the QR code a merchant displays for you to scan.
• 加好友 (jiā hǎoyǒu) - To add a friend, a process often completed by scanning a personal QR code.
• 无现金社会 (wú xiànjīn shèhuì) - Cashless society, the environment created by the universal adoption of QR code payments.
• 共享单车 (gòngxiǎng dānchē) - Shared bike, a common service accessed via QR code.
• 健康码 (jiànkāng mǎ) - Health Code, a color-coded QR code that was essential for movement and access to public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, demonstrating the code's integration into public governance.