到付

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dàofù: 到付 - Cash on Delivery (COD), Freight Collect

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: daofu, 到付, cash on delivery China, freight collect Chinese, payment on arrival, Chinese courier payment, Taobao payment, 快递到付, shunfeng daofu, how to pay for shipping in China.
  • Summary: Learn about 到付 (dàofù), the common Chinese term for “Cash on Delivery” or “Freight Collect.” This essential guide explains how this payment method allows you to pay for goods or shipping fees directly to the courier upon arrival. Whether you're shopping on Taobao or sending a package with Shunfeng Express, understanding 到付 is key to navigating daily logistics in China.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): dàofù
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
  • HSK Level: N/A
  • Concise Definition: To pay for goods and/or shipping fees upon their arrival.
  • In a Nutshell: 到付 (dàofù) literally means “arrive-pay.” It's the system where the recipient of a package pays for it, or pays for the shipping cost, at the moment of delivery. Imagine ordering a pizza and paying the driver at your door—that's the core concept. It's a straightforward and common transaction method used in Chinese e-commerce and personal shipping.

Character Breakdown

  • 到 (dào): This character means “to arrive,” “to reach,” or “to go to.” It depicts an arrow hitting a target, signifying the arrival at a destination.
  • 付 (fù): This character means “to pay.” It's composed of the “person” radical (亻) and a phonetic component (寸), and represents the action of a person handing something over, in this case, payment.
  • When combined, 到付 (dàofù) creates a clear and logical meaning: the payment (付) happens when the item arrives (到).

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In the early days of China's e-commerce boom (early 2000s), consumer trust in online payments was low. People were wary of paying for goods they hadn't seen yet. 到付 was a critical solution that helped platforms like Taobao and JD.com gain widespread adoption. It provided a safety net for consumers: you could receive the package, confirm it was what you ordered (at least externally), and then pay. This tangible “see then pay” model bridged the trust gap that purely digital transactions couldn't initially.
  • Comparison to the West: In Western countries, Cash on Delivery (COD) for consumer e-commerce is quite rare. Credit cards, debit cards, and platforms like PayPal became the standard long ago. COD is often seen as an outdated method. In China, however, 到付 co-existed robustly with digital payments like Alipay for many years and is still a standard option today. While mobile payments are now dominant, 到付 remains a vital service, especially for those without access to online banking or for business transactions where payment upon receipt is standard practice. It reflects a practical approach to commerce that prioritizes security and tangible exchange.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • E-commerce (网上购物 wǎngshàng gòuwù): When checking out on a shopping website, you may see 到付 as a payment option alongside Alipay (支付宝) and WeChat Pay (微信支付). Choosing it means you'll pay the courier in cash (or sometimes via a QR code scan on their device) when your package is delivered.
  • Sending Packages (寄快递 jì kuàidì): This is an extremely common use case. When you send a package, the courier will ask who is paying the shipping fee (邮费 yóufèi). You can choose to pay yourself (预付 yùfù or 寄付 jìfù) or have the recipient pay upon arrival (到付). This is called “freight collect.” Be careful: if you send a gift to a friend and select 到付, you are making them pay for the shipping!
  • Formality: The term is neutral and transactional. It's used in everyday conversation, on websites, and in business contexts without any strong positive or negative connotation. The more formal, complete term is 货到付款 (huò dào fùkuǎn), which specifically means “goods arrive, payment is made.” 到付 is the convenient, everyday shorthand.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 买家：你好，这个商品可以到付吗？
    • Pinyin: Mǎijiā: Nǐ hǎo, zhège shāngpǐn kěyǐ dàofù ma?
    • English: Buyer: Hello, can I pay cash on delivery for this item?
    • Analysis: A standard question asked by a customer to a seller on an e-commerce platform before making a purchase.
  • Example 2:
    • 快递员：您好，您有一个到付的快递，邮费是15元。
    • Pinyin: Kuàidìyuán: Nín hǎo, nín yǒu yí ge dàofù de kuàidì, yóufèi shì shíwǔ yuán.
    • English: Courier: Hello, you have a freight-collect package, the shipping fee is 15 RMB.
    • Analysis: Here, 到付 is used as an adjective to describe the package (快递). This is what you would hear from a delivery person at your door.
  • Example 3:
    • 我把文件寄给你了，运费我选了到付，你收到的时候付一下。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ wénjiàn jì gěi nǐ le, yùnfèi wǒ xuǎn le dàofù, nǐ shōudào de shíhou fù yíxià.
    • English: I've sent the documents to you. I chose freight collect for the shipping fee, so please pay it when you receive them.
    • Analysis: A common informal instruction between colleagues or friends, clarifying who is responsible for the shipping cost.
  • Example 4:
    • A: 这箱水果的运费谁付？ B: 你先寄吧，选到付就行。
    • Pinyin: A: Zhè xiāng shuǐguǒ de yùnfèi shéi fù? B: Nǐ xiān jì ba, xuǎn dàofù jiù xíng.
    • English: A: Who's paying the shipping for this box of fruit? B: Just send it, selecting freight collect is fine.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates a quick, decisive agreement on how to handle logistics.
  • Example 5:
    • 我们公司规定，所有退货的运费都必须由客户选择到付。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī guīdìng, suǒyǒu tuìhuò de yùnfèi dōu bìxū yóu kèhù xuǎnzé dàofù.
    • English: Our company policy states that for all returns, the shipping fee must be paid by the customer via freight collect.
    • Analysis: A formal sentence showing how 到付 is used in a business or policy context.
  • Example 6:
    • 对不起，我们只接受在线支付，不支持到付服务。
    • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒmen zhǐ jiēshòu zàixiàn zhīfù, bù zhīchí dàofù fúwù.
    • English: Sorry, we only accept online payments and do not support cash on delivery service.
    • Analysis: A common phrase you might see on a website or hear from customer service, indicating the limitation of payment options.
  • Example 7:
    • A: 为什么这个到付件这么贵？ B: 因为除了运费，还包括了商品的钱。
    • Pinyin: A: Wèishénme zhège dàofù jiàn zhème guì? B: Yīnwèi chúle yùnfèi, hái bāokuò le shāngpǐn de qián.
    • English: A: Why is this COD package so expensive? B: Because besides the shipping fee, it also includes the cost of the item itself.
    • Analysis: This conversation highlights the two possible components of a 到付 payment: just the shipping, or the shipping plus the value of the goods.
  • Example 8:
    • 如果你选择到付，快递公司可能会收取额外的手续费。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ xuǎnzé dàofù, kuàidì gōngsī kěnéng huì shōuqǔ éwài de shǒuxùfèi.
    • English: If you choose cash on delivery, the courier company might charge an extra service fee.
    • Analysis: A practical tip. Sometimes, 到付 is slightly more expensive than prepaying (预付).
  • Example 9:
    • 这是一份到付的合同，请您签收并支付20元运费。
    • Pinyin: Zhè shì yí fèn dàofù de hétong, qǐng nín qiānshōu bìng zhīfù èrshí yuán yùnfèi.
    • English: This is a freight-collect contract. Please sign for it and pay the 20 RMB shipping fee.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates a more formal, business-to-business usage.
  • Example 10:
    • 你在淘宝上买东西，更喜欢用支付宝还是到付？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ zài Táobǎo shàng mǎi dōngxi, gèng xǐhuān yòng Zhīfùbǎo háishì dàofù?
    • English: When you buy things on Taobao, do you prefer using Alipay or cash on delivery?
    • Analysis: A conversational question comparing 到付 with another major payment method.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Recipient Pays: The most common mistake for learners is misunderstanding who pays. 到付 (dàofù) means the recipient pays upon arrival. If you send a surprise gift to a friend and choose 到付, you've accidentally given them a bill for shipping, which can be awkward or rude. The sender-pays option is 预付 (yùfù), meaning “pre-paid.”
  • `到付` vs. `货到付款`: 货到付款 (huò dào fùkuǎn) specifically means “pay for the goods upon arrival.” 到付 is a broader, more common term that can mean paying for just the shipping fee (freight collect) OR paying for the goods plus shipping (cash on delivery). In most daily situations, they are used interchangeably, but 到付 is more frequent.
  • Not a Delivery Status: Do not confuse 到付 with a delivery update. 到付 is a payment method. A notification saying your package is “已签收 (yǐ qiānshōu)” means it has been “signed for/received.” A package can be a 到付 package and also have a status of “已签收.”

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 预付 (yùfù) - To prepay. The direct antonym of 到付. This is when the sender pays for shipping at the time of sending.
  • 快递 (kuàidì) - Express delivery; courier. The service industry that handles 到付 transactions.
  • 邮费 (yóufèi) / 运费 (yùnfèi) - Postage / Shipping fee. The cost that is often settled using 到付.
  • 包邮 (bāoyóu) - Free shipping. The seller covers the shipping cost, so the buyer pays neither in advance nor on arrival.
  • 货到付款 (huò dào fùkuǎn) - The full, more formal term for paying for the merchandise upon delivery.
  • 收件人 (shōujiànrén) - Recipient; addressee. The person who pays in a 到付 scenario.
  • 寄件人 (jìjiànrén) - Sender. The person who pays in a 预付 (yùfù) scenario.
  • 快递员 (kuàidìyuán) - Courier; delivery person. The person who collects the 到付 payment.