When taking a taxi in China, you may need to pay the driver in cash or through mobile payment apps such as Alipay or WeChat Pay.
This page provides useful Chinese phrases for asking about the fare, confirming payment, and requesting a receipt.
These expressions will help you complete your taxi ride smoothly and avoid misunderstandings.
🚕 How much is it?
Chinese: 多少钱？
Pinyin: duōshao qián?
English: How much is it?
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💬 Example:
A: How much is it?
A: 多少钱？
B: It’s 25 yuan in total.
B: 一共 25 元。
💡 Tip:
Ask this sentence when you arrive at your destination to check the total taxi fare.
🚕 Please use the meter.
Chinese: 请打表。
Pinyin: qǐng dǎ biǎo.
English: Please use the meter.
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💬 Example:
A: Please use the meter, I don’t want a fixed price.
A: 请打表，我不议价。
B: Sure, I’ll turn on the taxi meter right now.
B: 好的，我马上打表。
💡 Tip:
Say this at the start of your ride to avoid the driver charging you an arbitrary flat rate.
🚕 Can I pay by card?
Chinese: 可以刷卡吗？
Pinyin: kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?
English: Can I pay by card?
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💬 Example:
A: Can I pay by card? I don’t carry cash.
A: 可以刷卡吗？我没带现金。
B: Sorry, I only accept mobile payments.
B: 不好意思，我只收移动支付。
💡 Tip:
Use this if you want to settle the fare with credit or debit cards.
🚕 Can I pay with Alipay?
Chinese: 可以用支付宝付款吗？
Pinyin: kěyǐ yòng zhīfùbǎo fùkuǎn ma?
English: Can I pay with Alipay?
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💬 Example:
A: Can I pay with Alipay?
A: 可以用支付宝付款吗？
B: Yes, scan the QR code on the dashboard.
B: 可以，扫仪表盘上的二维码就行。
💡 Tip:
Ask this when you prefer to pay the taxi fee through Alipay.
🚕 Can I pay with WeChat Pay?
Chinese: 可以用微信支付吗？
Pinyin: kěyǐ yòng wēixìn zhīfù ma?
English: Can I pay with WeChat Pay?
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💬 Example:
A: Can I pay with WeChat Pay?
A: 可以用微信支付吗？
B: Of course, here is my payment code.
B: 当然可以，这是我的收款码。
💡 Tip:
Commonly used sentence for foreign tourists who use WeChat to complete mobile payment.
🚕 Please give me a receipt.
Chinese: 请给我发票。
Pinyin: qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào.
English: Please give me a receipt.
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💬 Example:
A: Please give me a receipt for business reimbursement.
A: 请给我发票，我需要报销。
B: Wait a second, I’ll print one for you.
B: 稍等，我给你打印一张。
💡 Tip:
Request a receipt when you need to claim travel expenses from your company.
🚕 Keep the change.
Chinese: 不用找零了。
Pinyin: búyòng zhǎo líng le.
English: Keep the change.
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💬 Example:
A: Keep the change, thank you for your service.
A: 不用找零了，谢谢你。
B: Thank you very much!
B: 非常感谢！
💡 Tip:
Say this to leave a small tip for the taxi driver after paying cash.
🚕 Here is the money.
Chinese: 钱给你。
Pinyin: qián gěi nǐ.
English: Here is the money.
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💬 Example:
A: Here is the money, please check it.
A: 钱给你，麻烦清点一下。
B: Thank you.
B: 谢谢。
💡 Tip:
Use this when handing cash to the driver to pay the taxi fare.
Travel Tip
In China, mobile payments such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are more commonly used than cash in many cities.
It is helpful to confirm the payment method before starting your taxi ride to avoid confusion at the end of the trip.