zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī: 自动取款机 - Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

• Keywords: 自动取款机, zidong qukuanji, ATM in Chinese, cash machine in Chinese, how to say ATM in Mandarin, withdraw money Chinese, Chinese banking terms, 自动提款机, 取款机, find an ATM in China, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say ATM in Chinese with “自动取款机” (zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī). This practical guide for beginners breaks down the meaning, cultural context, and modern usage of this essential term. Discover how to find a cash machine in China, understand related banking vocabulary, and see why this literal “automatic-withdraw-money-machine” is a perfect example of modern Chinese word creation, especially in a world shifting towards mobile payments.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: An automated teller machine (ATM).
• In a Nutshell: 自动取款机 is the standard Chinese term for an ATM. Unlike the English acronym, the Chinese name is completely transparent and descriptive. It literally breaks down into “automatic withdraw money machine,” telling you exactly what it does. It's a fundamental vocabulary word for anyone traveling, living, or doing business in China.

• 自 (zì): self; oneself. This character is a pictogram of a nose. In ancient China, people would point to their own nose to refer to themselves, so it came to mean “self” or “oneself.”
• 动 (dòng): to move. This character combines “heavy” (重) and “strength” (力), illustrating the effort required to move something. Together, 自动 (zìdòng) means “self-moving” or “automatic.”
• 取 (qǔ): to take; to get; to fetch. The character shows a hand (又) taking an ear (耳), which historically represented taking a trophy in battle. Today, its meaning is softened to simply “to take” or “to retrieve.”
• 款 (kuǎn): a sum of money; funds. This character is associated with money and finances. Together, 取款 (qǔkuǎn) means “to withdraw funds.”
• 机 (jī): machine; engine. The “wood” radical (木) on the left indicates that early machines were often made of wood.
• Putting It Together: The word is a logical construction: 自动 (automatic) + 取款 (withdraw money) + 机 (machine) = “Automatic-withdraw-money-machine.”

The term 自动取款机 is a window into China's rapid modernization. While Western cultures often use acronyms for new technology (like ATM, laser, or scuba), modern Chinese tends to create new words by combining existing characters into a logical, descriptive compound. 自动取款机 perfectly describes its function, making it immediately understandable to a native speaker, even if they've never seen one before. Culturally, the ATM's role in China has undergone a dramatic shift. For decades, it was a symbol of financial modernization and a bridge away from a purely cash-based society. However, with the meteoric rise of mobile payment systems like 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo - Alipay) and 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù - WeChat Pay), China has largely leapfrogged the “card era” and become a nearly cashless society in urban areas. Today, while locals might go weeks without needing one, the 自动取款机 remains crucial for foreigners who need to withdraw cash from international accounts, for people in more rural areas, or for situations where only 现金 (xiànjīn - cash) is accepted.

You'll encounter this term on bank signs, on maps, and in conversation when you need cash.

• Finding an ATM: To ask for the nearest one, you can say: “请问，附近有自动取款机吗？” (Qǐngwèn, fùjìn yǒu zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī ma? - Excuse me, is there an ATM nearby?).
• Abbreviations: In casual conversation, people often shorten it to just 取款机 (qǔkuǎn jī). It's similar to saying “cash machine” instead of the full “Automated Teller Machine.”
• On-Screen Vocabulary: When using the machine, you will see the verb form 取款 (qǔkuǎn) as the button to press for “Withdrawal.” Other key terms you'll see include 存款 (cúnkuǎn - Deposit), 查询 (cháxún - Inquiry), and 密码 (mìmǎ - PIN/Password).

The term itself is neutral and functional, carrying no special connotation.

• Example 1:
  • 我需要找一个自动取款机取点儿现金。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào zhǎo yí ge zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī qǔ diǎnr xiànjīn.
  • English: I need to find an ATM to withdraw some cash.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical sentence. Note the verb `取 (qǔ)` is used for the action of withdrawing.
• Example 2:
  • 这家银行旁边就有一台自动取款机。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā yínháng pángbiān jiù yǒu yì tái zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī.
  • English: There's an ATM right next to this bank.
  • Analysis: `台 (tái)` is the measure word for machines like computers and ATMs. `就 (jiù)` emphasizes that it's right there, making it convenient.
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，这台自动取款机坏了，请用另一台。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, zhè tái zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī huài le, qǐng yòng lìng yī tái.
  • English: Sorry, this ATM is broken, please use the other one.
  • Analysis: `坏了 (huài le)` is a crucial phrase meaning “is broken” or “out of order.”
• Example 4:
  • 你知道怎么用中国的自动取款机吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào zěnme yòng Zhōngguó de zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī ma?
  • English: Do you know how to use a Chinese ATM?
  • Analysis: A good question for a foreigner to ask a friend. `怎么用 (zěnme yòng)` means “how to use.”
• Example 5:
  • 我把卡插进取款机，但是它没反应。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ kǎ chā jìn qǔkuǎn jī, dànshì tā méi fǎnyìng.
  • English: I inserted my card into the cash machine, but it didn't respond.
  • Analysis: This example uses the common abbreviation 取款机 (qǔkuǎn jī). `把 (bǎ)` is used to structure the sentence around the object (the card).
• Example 6:
  • 这台自动取款机里没有现金了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī lǐ méiyǒu xiànjīn le.
  • English: This ATM is out of cash.
  • Analysis: Literally “Inside this ATM there is no cash anymore.” A frustrating but common situation.
• Example 7:
  • 在自动取款机上取钱需要付手续费吗？
  • Pinyin: Zài zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī shàng qǔ qián xūyào fù shǒuxùfèi ma?
  • English: Do I need to pay a service fee to withdraw money at the ATM?
  • Analysis: `手续费 (shǒuxùfèi)` is the word for service or transaction fees, very important for international bank cards.
• Example 8:
  • 输入密码时，小心别让别人看到。
  • Pinyin: Shūrù mìmǎ shí, xiǎoxīn bié ràng biérén kàndào.
  • English: When you enter your PIN, be careful not to let others see it.
  • Analysis: While this sentence doesn't contain the target term, it's a critical instruction directly related to using an 自动取款机. `输入密码 (shūrù mìmǎ)` means “input password.”
• Example 9:
  • 现在大部分人都用手机支付，很少用自动取款机了。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài dàbùfen rén dōu yòng shǒujī zhīfù, hěn shǎo yòng zìdòng qǔkuǎn jī le.
  • English: Nowadays, most people use mobile payments, so they rarely use ATMs.
  • Analysis: This sentence explains the modern cultural context of ATMs in China. `手机支付 (shǒujī zhīfù)` is “mobile payment.”
• Example 10:
  • 这台机器不仅能取款，还能存款，是一台自动存取款机。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái jīqì bùjǐn néng qǔkuǎn, hái néng cúnkuǎn, shì yì tái zìdòng cúnqǔkuǎn jī.
  • English: This machine can not only withdraw money but also deposit it; it's an automated deposit and withdrawal machine.
  • Analysis: This introduces a more complex term, `自动存取款机 (zìdòng cúnqǔkuǎn jī)`, which specifies a machine that also accepts deposits (`存款 cúnkuǎn`).

• Dropping “Automatic”: The most common nuance is that in daily speech, Chinese speakers almost always shorten 自动取款机 to just 取款机 (qǔkuǎn jī). Using the full term is perfectly correct but can sound a bit formal or textbook-like in casual conversation. Don't be confused if you hear the shorter version.
• 取款 vs. 提款: You will also see and hear 自动提款机 (zìdòng tíkuǎn jī). `提款 (tíkuǎn)` is a synonym for `取款 (qǔkuǎn)`, both meaning “to withdraw money.” They are completely interchangeable in this context. Some banks may prefer one term over the other on their signage, but everyone will understand both.
• Not an Acronym: A common mistake for learners is to assume there's a snappy acronym for ATM in Chinese. There isn't. The Chinese language favors descriptive compounds. Trying to invent an acronym like “ZQKJ” would be unnatural and not understood.

• 银行 (yínháng) - Bank. The institution that owns the ATM.
• 银行卡 (yínhángkǎ) - Bank card. The card you insert into the ATM.
• 现金 (xiànjīn) - Cash. The physical money you get from the machine.
• 密码 (mìmǎ) - Password / PIN. The secret code you must enter.
• 取款 (qǔkuǎn) - To withdraw money (verb). The primary action performed at an ATM.
• 存款 (cúnkuǎn) - To deposit money (verb). The opposite action, possible on some machines.
• 自动提款机 (zìdòng tíkuǎn jī) - A direct synonym for 自动取款机, using `提 (tí)` instead of `取 (qǔ)`.
• 手续费 (shǒuxùfèi) - Service fee / transaction fee. An important related cost, especially for international withdrawals.
• 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo) - Alipay. A ubiquitous mobile payment system and a major alternative to using cash from an ATM.
• 微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù) - WeChat Pay. The other dominant mobile payment platform in China.