xìnyòngkǎ: 信用卡 - Credit Card

• Keywords: xinyongka, 信用卡, Chinese credit card, how to use a credit card in China, paying in China, credit vs debit in Chinese, Alipay, WeChat Pay, 刷卡, HSK 4 vocabulary, UnionPay, 银联
• Summary: Discover the meaning and use of 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ), the Chinese word for “credit card.” This guide explains everything a learner needs to know, from its literal character breakdown (“trust-use-card”) to its modern role in China's mobile payment-dominated economy. Learn how to use a 信用卡, how it differs from a debit card (借记卡), and how it connects with essential apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay for practical daily use.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xìnyòngkǎ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A plastic card issued by a bank that allows the holder to purchase goods or services on credit.
• In a Nutshell: 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ) is the direct and unambiguous term for a “credit card.” It functions exactly like its Western counterpart, allowing you to “buy now, pay later.” While the concept is identical, its prevalence in daily life is different from many Western countries, as it often competes with, and is integrated into, China's massive mobile payment ecosystem.

• 信 (xìn): This character's core meaning is trust, faith, or credit. It's the same “xìn” found in words like 信用 (xìnyòng - credit/trustworthiness) and 自信 (zìxìn - self-confidence).
• 用 (yòng): This character simply means “to use”.
• 卡 (kǎ): This is a phonetic loanword, a character chosen because its pronunciation, “kǎ,” sounds like the English word “card”. It's used in many card-related terms, like 银行卡 (yínhángkǎ - bank card).

When combined, 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ) literally translates to “trust-use-card”—a card that you can use based on the bank's trust in you to pay them back.

The story of the 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ) in China is a fascinating example of “leapfrog” development. In the West, credit cards were a revolutionary payment technology that became deeply embedded in the consumer economy over decades. They are a primary tool for transactions, online shopping, and building a personal credit history. In China, credit cards arrived later and had a much shorter reign as the primary non-cash payment method. While they became common among the urban middle class, they never achieved the same level of ubiquity as in the US. Before they could, they were largely superseded by the explosive growth of QR code-based mobile payments: 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo - Alipay) and 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù - WeChat Pay). Culturally, there's a traditional preference for saving rather than borrowing, which made debit cards (借记卡 - jièjìkǎ) initially more popular. However, the convenience and benefits (points, cashback) of credit cards have made them an important financial tool for many, especially for larger purchases. Today, a credit card's primary function is often not to be swiped physically, but to be linked as a payment source within Alipay or WeChat Pay.

Understanding how to use a 信用卡 in China is key for both residents and travelers.

• Physical Swiping: Using a physical credit card is most common in larger, more international establishments:
  • Major hotels and hotel chains.
  • High-end restaurants and department stores.
  • Airports and train stations.
  • International brand stores (like Apple or Zara).
  • Note for Travelers: Foreign-issued cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) have limited acceptance. The dominant network in China is 银联 (Yínlián - UnionPay).
• Linking to Mobile Wallets (The Most Common Use):

The most practical way to use a 信用卡 is to link it to your Alipay or WeChat Pay account. This allows you to:

  1. Scan QR codes everywhere, from street food stalls to taxis.
  2. Use the credit card's line of credit for the purchase.
  3. Consolidate all your spending into one monthly credit card bill.
  This method combines the universal convenience of mobile payments with the financial tool of a credit card.
* **The Action of Paying:** The verb for using a card is **刷 (shuā)**, which means "to swipe" or "to brush." You would say **刷卡 (shuākǎ)** for "swipe the card" or **刷信用卡 (shuā xìnyòngkǎ)**.

• Example 1:
  • 我想申请一张信用卡。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng shēnqǐng yī zhāng xìnyòngkǎ.
  • English: I want to apply for a credit card.
  • Analysis: A straightforward and common sentence. The measure word for cards is 张 (zhāng).
• Example 2:
  • 这里可以刷信用卡吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ kěyǐ shuā xìnyòngkǎ ma?
  • English: Can I use a credit card here? (Literally: “Can [one] swipe a credit card here?”)
  • Analysis: This is an essential phrase for shopping. Note the use of 刷 (shuā), the verb for using a card.
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，我们只收现金或者微信支付，不收信用卡。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒmen zhǐ shōu xiànjīn huòzhě Wēixìn Zhīfù, bù shōu xìnyòngkǎ.
  • English: Sorry, we only accept cash or WeChat Pay, not credit cards.
  • Analysis: A very realistic response you might hear in smaller shops or restaurants in China.
• Example 4:
  • 我的信用卡额度是两万块。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de xìnyòngkǎ édù shì liǎng wàn kuài.
  • English: My credit card limit is 20,000 RMB.
  • Analysis: 额度 (édù) is the specific word for “limit” or “quota” in a financial context.
• Example 5:
  • 我每个月月底都要还信用卡账单。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi ge yuè yuèdǐ dōu yào huán xìnyòngkǎ zhàngdān.
  • English: I have to pay my credit card bill at the end of every month.
  • Analysis: 还 (huán) means “to return” or “to pay back.” 账单 (zhàngdān) means “bill” or “statement.”
• Example 6:
  • 糟糕，我的信用卡被刷爆了！
  • Pinyin: Zāogāo, wǒ de xìnyòngkǎ bèi shuā bào le!
  • English: Oh no, my credit card is maxed out!
  • Analysis: 刷爆 (shuā bào) is a fantastic colloquial phrase meaning “to swipe until it explodes,” i.e., to hit the credit limit.
• Example 7:
  • 我已经把我的信用卡绑定到支付宝了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐjīng bǎ wǒ de xìnyòngkǎ bǎngdìng dào Zhīfùbǎo le.
  • English: I have already linked my credit card to Alipay.
  • Analysis: 绑定 (bǎngdìng) means “to bind” or “to link,” a key verb in the digital age.
• Example 8:
  • 用这张信用卡买机票可以累积里程。
  • Pinyin: Yòng zhè zhāng xìnyòngkǎ mǎi jīpiào kěyǐ lěijī lǐchéng.
  • English: Using this credit card to buy plane tickets can accumulate mileage.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a common benefit of using credit cards. 累积 (lěijī) is “to accumulate” and 里程 (lǐchéng) is “mileage.”
• Example 9:
  • 我的信用卡好像丢了，我得马上挂失。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de xìnyòngkǎ hǎoxiàng diū le, wǒ děi mǎshàng guàshī.
  • English: I think I lost my credit card, I need to report the loss immediately.
  • Analysis: 挂失 (guàshī) is the specific term for reporting a card or document as lost to an official institution.
• Example 10:
  • 这笔消费，我想用信用卡分期付款。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bǐ xiāofèi, wǒ xiǎng yòng xìnyòngkǎ fēnqī fùkuǎn.
  • English: For this purchase, I'd like to pay in installments using my credit card.
  • Analysis: 分期付款 (fēnqī fùkuǎn) means “to pay in installments,” a very common feature offered by credit cards in China for large purchases.

• 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ) vs. 借记卡 (jièjìkǎ): This is the most crucial distinction.
  • 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ): Credit Card. You borrow money from the bank.
  • 借记卡 (jièjìkǎ): Debit Card. You use your own money from your bank account.
  • Mistake: Using 信用卡 when you mean a debit card. In China, most people's primary bank card that they receive when opening an account is a 借记卡. You must specifically apply for a 信用卡.
• Payment Platform vs. Funding Source:
  • A common point of confusion is the relationship between cards and apps like Alipay.
  • Incorrect thinking: “I will pay with Alipay instead of my credit card.”
  • Correct thinking: “I will pay using the Alipay platform, which is funded by my linked credit card.” 信用卡 is the *source of money*, while Alipay/WeChat Pay is the *method of transaction*.
• Verb Usage: 用 (yòng) vs. 刷 (shuā)
  • While you can say 我用信用卡付款 (Wǒ yòng xìnyòngkǎ fùkuǎn - “I'll use a credit card to pay”), at the moment of payment, the action is 刷 (shuā). The most natural phrase when handing your card to a cashier is “刷卡 (shuākǎ)“.

• 借记卡 (jièjìkǎ) - Debit Card. The direct counterpart to a credit card; it uses money directly from your bank account.
• 支付宝 (zhīfùbǎo) - Alipay. One of the two leading mobile payment platforms in China, owned by Alibaba.
• 微信支付 (wēixìn zhīfù) - WeChat Pay. The other leading mobile payment platform, integrated into the WeChat messaging app.
• 刷卡 (shuākǎ) - To swipe/use a card. The action of paying with any plastic card.
• 额度 (édù) - Credit Limit. The maximum amount you can borrow on your credit card.
• 账单 (zhàngdān) - Bill/Statement. The monthly summary of charges from the bank.
• 银联 (yínlián) - UnionPay. China's domestic bank card network. Most cards in China are UnionPay cards.
• 分期付款 (fēnqī fùkuǎn) - To pay in installments. A common way to pay for large items using a credit card over several months.
• 信用 (xìnyòng) - Credit/Trustworthiness. The underlying concept that a credit card is based on.
• 移动支付 (yídòng zhīfù) - Mobile Payment. The general category that includes Alipay and WeChat Pay.