shōujù: 收据 - Receipt, Proof of Payment

• Keywords: 收据, shōujù, Chinese receipt, what is a shouju, proof of payment in China, receipt vs fapiao, Chinese for receipt, get a receipt in China, business reimbursement China, shopping in China.
• Summary: The Chinese word 收据 (shōujù) translates to “receipt” and serves as a basic proof of payment. While essential for personal record-keeping, it's crucial for learners to understand its distinction from the official tax invoice, the 发票 (fāpiào). This page will guide you on what a shōujù is, when to use it, and why confusing it with a fāpiào is a common mistake for foreigners in China, especially in business contexts.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shōu jù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A written acknowledgment that a sum of money has been paid or received.
• In a Nutshell: A 收据 (shōujù) is the simple, informal proof of a transaction, much like a cash register slip or a handwritten note from a landlord confirming you paid rent. It proves that money changed hands between you and the seller. However, it is not an official government-registered tax document and generally cannot be used for business expense claims.

• 收 (shōu): The primary meaning is “to receive,” “to accept,” or “to collect.” You can think of it as a hand reaching out to accept something.
• 据 (jù): This character means “evidence,” “proof,” or “basis.” It's composed of the “hand” radical (扌) and a phonetic component, suggesting something you hold onto as proof.
• Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 收据 (shōujù) literally means “receiving-proof” or “evidence of receipt.” It’s a very logical and descriptive name for the document's function.

The most important cultural and practical point about a 收据 (shōujù) is what it is *not*. In Western cultures, a single “receipt” usually serves all purposes: personal records, returns, and business expense reports. In China, this is not the case. The key distinction is between a 收据 (shōujù) and a 发票 (fāpiào).

• 收据 (shōujù): An informal proof of payment between two parties. It has no tax implications and is not tracked by the government. Think of it as a simple “I Owe You” but for a completed payment. It's often handwritten for things like a rental deposit or issued by small vendors who are not equipped to provide official invoices.
• 发票 (fāpiào): An official, government-printed and regulated invoice that serves as both a proof of payment and a tax document. Businesses use these to record revenue and pay taxes. Consumers and employees must have a fāpiào to claim business expenses for reimbursement.

This distinction creates a common and important interaction in daily life. For any significant purchase (a business dinner, a computer, a taxi ride for work), it is standard practice to explicitly ask for a fāpiào by saying “我要发票” (Wǒ yào fāpiào). Simply getting a shōujù will not be sufficient for official purposes, a hard lesson many foreigners learn when they submit their expense reports. This system is a core part of China's tax infrastructure and business etiquette.

You will encounter 收据 (shōujù) in several common situations:

• Rental Deposits: When you pay a security deposit (押金, yājīn) for an apartment, your landlord will almost always give you a handwritten 收据 (shōujù). You must keep this safe to get your deposit back.
• Small Vendors and Markets: Small street vendors or stalls in a market might give you a simple 收据 if you ask for proof of purchase, as they are often not registered to issue official fāpiào.
• Informal Services: Paying for a private tutoring session or a small repair job might result in a shōujù.
• Placeholder: Occasionally, a larger business might be temporarily unable to issue a fāpiào and will give you a shōujù first, which you can later exchange for the official fāpiào.

The key takeaway is its informality. If the transaction has any official, business, or tax implication, you need more than a shōujù.

• Example 1:
  • 老板，麻烦给我开一张收据。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, máfan gěi wǒ kāi yī zhāng shōujù.
  • English: Boss, could you please issue me a receipt?
  • Analysis: This is a polite and common way to ask for a basic receipt from a small shop owner. 开 (kāi) is the verb “to open” but here it means “to issue” or “to write out.”
• Example 2:
  • 请您保管好这张押金收据。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng nín bǎoguǎn hǎo zhè zhāng yājīn shōujù.
  • English: Please keep this security deposit receipt in a safe place.
  • Analysis: This is what a landlord would say. 保管好 (bǎoguǎn hǎo) means “to take good care of.” 张 (zhāng) is the measure word for flat objects like paper.
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，只有收据不能报销。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, zhǐyǒu shōujù bùnéng bàoxiāo.
  • English: Sorry, you can't get reimbursed with only a receipt.
  • Analysis: This is a sentence you might hear from your company's finance department. It highlights the core difference between a shōujù and a fāpiào for business purposes.
• Example 4:
  • 我把买电脑的收据弄丢了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ mǎi diànnǎo de shōujù nòng diū le.
  • English: I lost the receipt for the computer I bought.
  • Analysis: The 把 (bǎ) construction is used here to emphasize the object (the receipt) being acted upon (“lost”). 弄丢了 (nòng diū le) is a common way to say “lost something through carelessness.”
• Example 5:
  • 这是一张手写的收据，你看可以吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī zhāng shǒuxiě de shōujù, nǐ kàn kěyǐ ma?
  • English: This is a handwritten receipt, is that okay?
  • Analysis: 手写 (shǒuxiě) means handwritten. This confirms the informal nature of the document.
• Example 6:
  • 收据上写明了付款日期和金额。
  • Pinyin: Shōujù shàng xiěmíng le fùkuǎn rìqī hé jīn'é.
  • English: The receipt clearly states the payment date and amount.
  • Analysis: 写明 (xiěmíng) means “to write clearly” or “to specify.” This sentence details the basic information found on a shōujù.
• Example 7:
  • 付完款后，我拿到了一张收据和一张发票。
  • Pinyin: Fù wán kuǎn hòu, wǒ nádào le yī zhāng shōujù hé yī zhāng fāpiào.
  • English: After paying, I received one receipt and one fapiao.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly compares the two. Sometimes a machine will print both: a simple credit card slip (收据) and the official invoice (发票).
• Example 8:
  • 如果没有收据，我们就没法给你退货。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu shōujù, wǒmen jiù méi fǎ gěi nǐ tuìhuò.
  • English: If you don't have the receipt, we can't give you a refund.
  • Analysis: This shows the most common use of a receipt in a personal retail context. 退货 (tuìhuò) means “to return goods.”
• Example 9:
  • 我需要的是能报销的发票，不是这种普通的收据。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào de shì néng bàoxiāo de fāpiào, bùshì zhè zhǒng pǔtōng de shōujù.
  • English: What I need is a fapiao that can be reimbursed, not this kind of ordinary receipt.
  • Analysis: A perfect, practical sentence for clarifying your needs in a business situation. 普通的 (pǔtōng de) means “common” or “ordinary.”
• Example 10:
  • 公司的规定是，一百块以下可以用收据，以上必须用发票。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de guīdìng shì, yī bǎi kuài yǐxià kěyǐ yòng shōujù, yǐshàng bìxū yòng fāpiào.
  • English: The company rule is that for expenses under 100 yuan you can use a receipt, but for anything over you must use a fapiao.
  • Analysis: This illustrates a possible real-world company policy, showing that even a shōujù has its limited place in the business world.

The #1 Mistake: Confusing 收据 (shōujù) with 发票 (fāpiào) This is the most critical pitfall for any foreigner living, working, or traveling in China on business.

• False Friend: While “receipt” is the correct translation, the English word “receipt” implies it can be used for reimbursement. The Chinese 收据 cannot be. Think of 收据 as “proof of payment” and 发票 as “official tax invoice.”
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • You just paid for a 500 RMB business dinner and the waiter gives you a simple cash register slip. You say:
  • (Incorrect) 谢谢，这张收据就够了。 (Xièxiè, zhè zhāng shōujù jiù gòu le.) - “Thanks, this receipt is enough.”
  • Why it's wrong: You have just accepted a document your company's finance department will reject. You will not be able to claim this 500 RMB expense.
• Correct Approach:
  • The waiter gives you the simple slip.
  • (Correct) 谢谢，但是请帮我开一张发票，我要报销。 (Xièxiè, dànshì qǐng bāng wǒ kāi yī zhāng fāpiào, wǒ yào bàoxiāo.) - “Thanks, but please help me issue a fapiao, I need it for reimbursement.”

Always be explicit about needing a 发票 (fāpiào) if the expense is for business. If it's for your own personal record, a 收据 (shōujù) is perfectly fine.

• 发票 (fāpiào) - The crucial counterpart to a 收据. It's the official, government-regulated tax invoice required for business reimbursement.
• 小票 (xiǎopiào) - Literally “small slip.” A very common, colloquial term for the long, thin receipt that comes out of a cash register. Often used interchangeably with 收据 in daily conversation.
• 报销 (bàoxiāo) - To reimburse; to claim expenses. This is the verb that gives the 收据 vs. 发票 distinction its importance.
• 开 (kāi) - The verb used for “issuing” documents. You can 开收据 (kāi shōujù) or 开发票 (kāi fāpiào).
• 付款凭证 (fùkuǎn píngzhèng) - A very formal term for “proof of payment.” A 收据 is a type of 付款凭证.
• 押金 (yājīn) - Security deposit. You will almost certainly receive a 收据 when you pay this for an apartment or bike rental.
• 单据 (dānjù) - A general, overarching term for any kind of document like a bill, receipt, or form. 收据 is a specific type of 单据.
• 凭证 (píngzhèng) - Proof, evidence, certificate. This is the more formal root word for the “proof” part of many official terms.