zhīfù: 支付 - To Pay, Payment

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• Summary: Discover the meaning of 支付 (zhīfù), the essential Chinese word for “to pay.” This term is at the heart of modern China's nearly cashless society. Learn how 支付 (zhīfù) is used in everyday life, from mobile payments with Alipay and WeChat Pay to online shopping and paying bills. This guide provides practical examples, cultural insights, and a clear breakdown of how to use 支付 (zhīfù) correctly, making it a must-read for anyone traveling to or doing business with China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhī fù
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To pay money for goods, services, or bills.
• In a Nutshell: 支付 (zhīfù) is the standard, all-purpose verb for “to pay.” While you might use other words in casual conversation, 支付 (zhīfù) is the term you'll see on buttons in apps, on websites, and in formal contexts. It represents the act of transferring funds, especially in the digital, mobile-first economy of modern China.

• 支 (zhī): This character can mean “to support,” “branch,” or “to expend/pay out.” Think of it as a branch of your funds being extended to someone else. Its original pictograph shows a hand holding a branch.
• 付 (fù): This character means “to hand over” or “to give.” It's composed of the radicals for a person (亻) and a hand (寸), vividly depicting the act of giving something to someone.
• Together, 支付 (zhīfù) literally means “to expend and hand over,” which perfectly captures the modern concept of making a payment or transferring funds.

The term 支付 (zhīfù) is more than just a word; it's a gateway to understanding the engine of modern Chinese daily life: the digital economy. In the West, “paying” brings to mind cash, credit cards, or maybe tapping a phone. In China, 支付 (zhīfù) is almost exclusively synonymous with 移动支付 (yídòng zhīfù) - mobile payment. The country has leapfrogged the credit card era and moved directly into a society where QR codes reign supreme. The two giants, 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo - Alipay) and 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù - WeChat Pay), dominate every corner of commerce. Unlike in the US where digital payment is a convenience, in many parts of urban China it's a necessity. Street food vendors, local markets, and even buskers will present a QR code for you to scan and 支付. Many smaller shops no longer accept cash or foreign credit cards. This rapid, widespread adoption reflects a cultural value of embracing efficiency (效率, xiàolǜ) and cutting-edge technology. For a learner, understanding how to 支付 is as fundamental as knowing how to say “hello” or “thank you.”

You will encounter 支付 (zhīfù) constantly in digital and commercial settings.

• Mobile & Online Payments: This is the most common context. When you buy something online or use an app, the button to complete the transaction will almost always say 支付. You will also use it when talking about the action itself. For example, “I'll use my phone to pay” (我用手机支付).
• Scanning QR Codes: The most iconic action in modern China. You scan a merchant's QR code (二维码, èrwéimǎ) to 支付.
• Paying Bills: The term is used for more formal transactions like paying utility bills (支付账单, zhīfù zhàngdān), rent, or tuition.
• Formality: 支付 (zhīfù) is a neutral-to-slightly-formal term. It's more formal than the colloquial `付钱 (fùqián)` but perfectly normal in most daily situations, especially those involving technology.

• Example 1:
  • 您想怎么支付？
  • Pinyin: Nín xiǎng zěnme zhīfù?
  • English: How would you like to pay?
  • Analysis: A standard, polite question a cashier or service provider would ask. `您 (nín)` makes it polite.
• Example 2:
  • 我可以用微信支付吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn zhīfù ma?
  • English: Can I pay with WeChat?
  • Analysis: An essential phrase for any visitor to China. `用 (yòng)` means “to use,” so this literally translates to “I can use WeChat to pay?”
• Example 3:
  • 请扫描这个二维码来支付。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng sǎomiáo zhège èrwéimǎ lái zhīfù.
  • English: Please scan this QR code to pay.
  • Analysis: You will hear this everywhere, from restaurants to street vendors. `扫描 (sǎomiáo)` means “to scan.”
• Example 4:
  • 这件商品的钱我已经支付了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shāngpǐn de qián wǒ yǐjīng zhīfù le.
  • English: I have already paid for this item.
  • Analysis: `已经…了 (yǐjīng…le)` is a common structure indicating a completed action. Used frequently in online shopping contexts.
• Example 5:
  • 你每个月需要支付多少水电费？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měi ge yuè xūyào zhīfù duōshǎo shuǐdiànfèi?
  • English: How much do you need to pay for utilities each month?
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 支付 for recurring bills. `水电费 (shuǐdiànfèi)` means “water and electricity fees.”
• Example 6:
  • 对不起，您的支付失败了。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, nín de zhīfù shībài le.
  • English: Sorry, your payment failed.
  • Analysis: Here, 支付 is used as a noun (“payment”). `失败 (shībài)` means “to fail.”
• Example 7:
  • 支付宝让移动支付变得非常方便。
  • Pinyin: Zhīfùbǎo ràng yídòng zhīfù biànde fēicháng fāngbiàn.
  • English: Alipay makes mobile payment become extremely convenient.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the related term `移动支付 (yídòng zhīfù)`, mobile payment, showing how the core word is a building block.
• Example 8:
  • 我们的网站支持多种支付方式。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de wǎngzhàn zhīchí duōzhǒng zhīfù fāngshì.
  • English: Our website supports multiple payment methods.
  • Analysis: Here 支付 modifies `方式 (fāngshì)` to mean “payment methods.” `支持 (zhīchí)` means “to support.”
• Example 9:
  • 所有款项必须在月底前支付。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu kuǎnxiàng bìxū zài yuèdǐ qián zhīfù.
  • English: All funds must be paid before the end of the month.
  • Analysis: A formal example you might see in a contract or invoice. `款项 (kuǎnxiàng)` is a formal word for “funds” or “sum of money.”
• Example 10:
  • 点击这里完成支付。
  • Pinyin: Diǎnjī zhèlǐ wánchéng zhīfù.
  • English: Click here to complete the payment.
  • Analysis: A very common instruction on websites and in apps. `点击 (diǎnjī)` means “to click” and `完成 (wánchéng)` means “to complete.”

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 支付 (zhīfù), 付款 (fùkuǎn), and 付钱 (fùqián).

• 支付 (zhīfù) (Verb): The standard, slightly formal term. It emphasizes the action of payment, especially in digital or official contexts. It's the most versatile term.
• 付款 (fùkuǎn) (Verb/Noun): Means “to make a payment” or “the payment (itself).” It feels a bit more transactional and is very common in e-commerce and business. The character `款 (kuǎn)` specifically refers to a sum of money. You will often see “等待买家付款” (waiting for buyer to make payment) on Taobao.
• 付钱 (fùqián) (Verb): The most colloquial and direct term. It literally means “to hand over money.” You use this in everyday spoken language, like telling a friend, “It's my turn to pay” (轮到我付钱了).

Common Mistake: Using 支付 in a very casual setting where 付钱 would be more natural.

• Incorrect: (To a close friend at a snack stall) 你支付了吗？ (Nǐ zhīfù le ma?)
• Why it's awkward: This sounds a bit stiff and formal, like you're conducting a business transaction.
• Correct: 你付钱了吗？(Nǐ fùqián le ma?) - “Did you pay?” This is much more natural and common among friends.

Think of it this way: You 付钱 (fùqián) for a coffee with a friend, but you 支付 (zhīfù) your monthly phone bill online.

• 付款 (fùkuǎn) - To make a payment; often used in business or e-commerce contexts. More transactional than `支付`.
• 付钱 (fùqián) - To pay money; a very common and colloquial term for paying in everyday life.
• 移动支付 (yídòng zhīfù) - Mobile payment; the dominant form of payment in China.
• 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo) - Alipay; a leading third-party mobile and online payment platform. Its name literally means “Payment Treasure.”
• 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù) - WeChat Pay; the other major payment platform, integrated into the WeChat social media app.
• 买单 (mǎidān) - To pay the bill (lit. “buy the bill”), specifically used in restaurants and bars. Very colloquial.
• 二维码 (èrwéimǎ) - QR code; the technology that enables most mobile payments in China.
• 账单 (zhàngdān) - A bill or invoice; the document that you need to `支付`.
• 现金 (xiànjīn) - Cash; what is rarely used in modern Chinese cities.
• 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ) - Credit card; also less common than mobile payment for daily transactions in China.