Paying the Bill

Audio is not available for this page yet.

When we’ve finished a meal, we can ask if other people are ready to pay the bill.

1. 
我哋埋單
ngo5 dei6maai4 daan1mei6aa3?
wepay billyetSP
Are we paying the bill yet?
[= Should we pay the bill now? / Do you want to pay the bill now?]
2. 
不如我哋埋單
bat1 jyu4ngo5 dei6maai4 daan1laa1.
why notwepay billSP
Let’s pay the bill.
3. 
hou2aa3,maai4laa1.
goodSPpay billSP
Good. [= Sure.] Let’s pay the bill.

If we want to treat other people, we can pretend to go to the washroom and pay the bill in advance secretly. This can prevent other people from grabbing the bill later. If we’ve done so successfully, we can proudly say:

4. 
頭先出去
ngo5tau4 sin1ceot1 heoi3bei2zo2laa3.
Ia moment agogo outpayAPSP
I have already gone out to pay a moment ago.
5. 
頭先出去
ngo5tau4 sin1ceot1 heoi3maai4zo2laa3.
Ia moment agogo outpay billAPSP
I have already gone out to pay the bill a moment ago.

To get the bill from the server, we can say:

侍應 si6 jing3

haak3

6. 
埋單唔該
maai4 daan1aa1m4 goi1.
pay billSPplease
Pay the bill, please.
[= I want to pay the bill, please.]
7. 
hou2,cing2dang2jat1dang2.
goodpleasewaitonewait
Good. [= Sure.] Please wait for a while.

In some restaurants (e.g., cha chaan teng), we will pay the bill at the cashier counter near the entrance. The server will ask us to take the bill there to pay.

8. 
麻煩你哋出去
maa4 faan4nei5 dei6ling1zoeng1daan1ceot1 heoi3bei2aa1.
pleaseyoutakeCLbillgo outpaySP
Please take the bill to go out to pay.
  • 拎張單出去俾 ling1 zoeng1 daan1 ceot1 heoi3 bei2 is a type of serial verb construction. We will examine it in later lessons.
9. 
麻煩你哋出去
maa4 faan4nei5 dei6ling1zoeng1daan1ceot1 heoi3maai4aa1.
pleaseyoutakeCLbillgo outpay billSP
Please take the bill to go out to pay the bill.

When the server brings us the bill, they may ask who will pay.

10. 
請問邊位
cing2 man6bin1 wai2bei2ge2?
may I askwhopaySP
May I ask who will pay?
11. 
請問邊位
cing2 man6bin1 wai2maai4ge2?
may I askwhopay billSP
May I ask who will pay the bill?
12. 
唔該
ngo5bei2aa1m4 goi1.
IpaySPplease
I will pay, please.
13. 
唔該
ngo5maai4aa1m4 goi1.
Ipay billSPplease
I will pay the bill, please.
14. 
多謝三百八十三
do1 ze6nei5saam1 baak3 baat3 sap6 saam1man1,
thankyou383dollar
請問乜嘢
cing2 man6bei2mat1 je5ge2?
may I askpay bywhatSP
Thank you for $383. May I ask what you will pay by?
15. 
現金唔該
bei2jin6 gam1aa1m4 goi1.
pay bycashSPplease
I will pay in cash, please.
16.   
信用卡 / 卡唔該
bei2seon3 jung6 kaat1 / kaat1aa1m4 goi1.
pay bycredit cardSPplease
I will pay by credit card, please.

If we’re not sure what payment methods are accepted, we can ask:

17. 
請問你哋乜嘢
cing2 man6nei5 dei6sau1mat1 je5ge2?
may I askyouacceptwhatSP
May I ask what you accept?
18. 
我哋現金信用卡
ngo5 dei6sau1jin6 gam1tung4seon3 jung6 kaat1ge3.
youacceptcashandcredit cardSP
We accept cash and credit cards.
19. 
我哋淨係現金
ngo5 dei6zing6 hai6sau1jin6 gam1zaa3.
youonlyacceptcashSP
We only accept cash.

If we’re not sure whether a payment method is accepted, we can ask:

20.   
請問信用卡 / 卡
cing2 man6sau1m4sau1seon3 jung6 kaat1 / kaat1ge2?
may I askacceptnotacceptcredit cardSP
May I ask if you accept credit cards?
21.   
請問可以信用卡 / 卡
cing2 man6ho2m4ho2 ji5bei2seon3 jung6 kaat1 / kaat1ge2?
may I askcannotcanpay bycredit cardSP
May I ask if I can pay by credit card?

Route A: Yes (Pay by credit card)

22. 
sau1aa3.
acceptSP
Yes.
23. 
可以
ho2 ji5aa3.
canSP
Yes.

In Hong Kong, the server will usually ask us to tap our credit card on a payment terminal nowadays.

24. 
麻煩呢度
maa4 faan4nei5hai2ni1 dou6paak3jat1paak3kaat1aa1.
pleaseyouonheretaponetapcardSP
Please tap the card here.
25. 
bit1.
beep
Beep.
26. 
唔該晒
dak1laa3,m4 goi1 saai3.
okaySPthank you so much
It’s okay already. Thank you so much.

In some restaurants, the server will still take our credit card to the cashier counter and then come back with a credit card receipt for us to sign on it.

27.   
Visa / Master
sau1nei5Visa / Masterge3,cing2dang2jat1dang2.
receiveyouVisa / MasterSPpleasewaitonewait
We receive Visa / Master from you. Please wait for a while.

A few moments later…

28. 
麻煩簽名
maa4 faan4nei5cim1jat1cim1 meng2aa1.
pleaseyousignonesignSP
Please sign.

A few moments later…

29. 
呀吓
bei2faan1zoeng1kaat1nei5sin1aa3 haa2.
giveVPCLcardyoufirstSP
I will give the card back to you first.

Route B: No (Pay in cash)

30. 
唔好意思我哋信用卡
m4 hou2 ji3 si1,ngo5 dei6m4sau1seon3 jung6 kaat1ge3.
sorrywenotacceptcredit cardSP
Sorry, we don’t accept credit cards.
31. 
唔好意思我哋淨係現金
m4 hou2 ji3 si1,ngo5 dei6zing6 hai6sau1jin6 gam1zaa3.
sorryweonlyacceptcashSP
Sorry, we only accept cash.
32. 
唔緊要現金
m4 gan2 jiu3,gam2ngo5bei2jin6 gam1laa1.
never mindthenIpay bycashSP
Never mind. Then, let me pay in cash.
33. 
四百
sau1nei5sei3 baak3man1ge3,cing2dang2jat1dang2.
receiveyou400dollarSPpleasewaitonewait
We receive $400 from you. Please wait for a while.

A few moments later…

34. 
十七
zaau2faan1nei5sap6 cat1man1ge3.
give changeVPyou17dollarSP
We give change of $17 back to you.
35. 
十七
zaau2faan1sap6 cat1man1bei2nei5ge3.
give changeVP17dollargiveyouSP
We give change of $17 back to you.
36. 
十七
zaau2faan1sap6 cat1man1ge3.
give changeVP17dollarSP
We give change of $17 back.

If we don’t need the change, we can say:

37. 
唔使唔該
m4 sai2zaau2laa3,m4 goi1.
not need togive changeSPthank you
You don’t need to give change. Thank you.
38. 
多謝晒
do1 ze6 saai3.
thank you so much
Thank you so much.

The server may ask if we want the receipt.

39.   
請問單 / 收據
cing2 man6jiu3m4jiu3faan1zoeng1daan1 / sau1 geoi3ge2?
may I askwantnotwantVPCLreceiptSP
May I ask if you want the receipt back?
40.   
請問使唔使單 / 收據
cing2 man6sai2 m4 sai2jiu3faan1zoeng1daan1 / sau1 geoi3ge2?
may I askneed not need towantVPCLreceiptSP
May I ask if you need to get the receipt back?
41. 
唔該
hou2aa3,m4 goi1.
goodSPthank you.
Good. [= Yes.] Thank you.
42. 
唔使唔該
m4 sai2laa3,m4 goi1.
not need toSPthank you.
I don’t need it. Thank you.

If the server doesn’t give us a receipt, we can say:

43.   
唔該單 / 收據
m4 goi1bei2zoeng1daan1 / sau1 geoi3ngo5aa1.
pleasegiveCLreceiptmeSP
Please give me a receipt.

Parking is usually not free in Hong Kong, especially in shopping malls. However, if we eat at a restaurant in a shopping mall, we can often use our receipts to redeem free parking. The server may ask whether we drive to see if we need a receipt.

44. 
請問揸車
cing2 man6jau5mou5zaa1 ce1lai4ge2?
may I askhavenot havedrivecomeSP
May I ask if you drive to come?
  • 揸車嚟 zaa1 ce1 lai4 is a type of serial verb construction. We will examine it in later lessons.

Route A: Yes

45. 
唔該
jau5aa3,m4 goi1.
haveSPthank you
Yes. Thank you.
46. 
ngo5bei2zoeng1daan1nei5aa1,cing2dang2jat1dang2.
IgiveCLreceiptyouSPpleasewaitonewait
Let me give you a receipt. Please wait for a while.

Route B: No

47. 
唔該
mou5aa3,m4 goi1.
not haveSPthank you
No. Thank you.

If the server doesn’t ask, we can say:

48. 
我哋揸車
ngo5 dei6zaa1 ce1lai4ge3,
wedrivecomeSP
請問呢度免費泊車
cing2 man6ni1 dou6jau5mou5min5 fai3paak3 ce1ge2?
may I askherehavenot havefreeparkSP
We drive to come here. May I ask if there is free parking here?
49. 
jau5aa3,ngo5bei2zoeng1daan1nei5aa1,
haveSPIgiveCLreceiptyouSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Yes. Let me give you a receipt. Please wait for a while.
50. 
唔好意思
mou5aa3,m4 hou2 ji3 si1.
not haveSPsorry
No. Sorry.

If we want to split the bill and pay back the person who paid the bill, we can say:

51.   
幾多錢 / 幾錢
jat1go3jan4bei2gei2 do1 cin2 / gei2 cin2aa3?
oneCLpersonpayhow muchSP
How much does one person pay?
52. 
ngo5gai3haa5sin1,
IcalculateAPfirst
三百八十三
saam1 baak3 baat3 sap6 saam1man1ceoi4sei3,
383dollarbe divided by4
九十五個八
jat1go3jan4bei2gau2 sap6 ng5 go3 baat3,
oneCLpersonpay$95.8
九十五
bei2gau2 sap6 ng5man1ngo5dak1laa3.
pay95dollarmeokaySP
Let me calculate it first. $383 divided by 4.
One person pays $95.8. Paying $95 to me is okay already.
53. 
naa4.
here you go
Here you go.

If we order our own food individually and want to pay for our own food, we can say:

54.   
幾多錢 / 幾錢
bei2faan1gei2 do1 cin2 / gei2 cin2nei5aa3?
payVPhow muchyouSP
How much do I pay back to you?
55. 
乜嘢
nei5giu3zo2mat1 je5aa3?
youorderAPwhatSP
What have you ordered?
56. 
西炒飯
sai1 caau2 faan6tung4dung3ning2caa4.
Western Fried Riceandicedlemontea
Western Fried Rice and iced lemon tea.
57. 
西炒飯四十五
sai1 caau2 faan6sei3 sap6 ng5man1,
Western Fried Rice45dollar
dung3jam2gaa1loeng5man1,
iceddrinkadd2dollar
夾埋四十七
gaap3 maai4sei3 sap6 cat1man1.
in total47dollar
Western Fried Rice is $45.
For the iced drink, add $2. $47 in total.

We can also ask for the price of our food directly.

58.   
西炒飯
sai1 caau2 faan6tung4dung3ning2caa4
Western Fried Riceandicedlemontea
夾埋幾多錢 / 幾錢
gaap3 maai4gei2 do1 cin2 / gei2 cin2aa3?
in totalhow muchSP
How much are Western Fried Rice and iced lemon tea in total?
59. 
西炒飯
sai1 caau2 faan6tung4dung3ning2caa4
Western Fried Riceandicedlemontea
夾埋四十七
gaap3 maai4sei3 sap6 cat1man1.
in total47dollar
Western Fried Rice and iced lemon tea are $47 in total.

If we want to treat other people, we can reply:

60. 
唔使你哋
m4 sai2laa3,ngo5ceng2nei5 dei6laa1.
not need toSPItreatyouSP
You don’t need to. Let me treat you.
61. 
m4hou2ge3.
notgoodSP
Not good.
62. 
唔使你哋下次
m4 sai2laa1,nei5 dei6haa6 ci3ceng2faan1ngo5laa1.
not need toSPyounext timetreatVPmeSP
You don’t need to. Why don’t you treat me back next time?
63. 
多謝晒
gam2hou2laa1,do1 ze6 saai3.
thengoodSPthank you so much
Okay then. Thank you so much.

If we want to ask if other people are ready to leave, we can say:

64. 
我哋
ngo5 dei6zau2mei6aa3?
weleaveyetSP
Are we leaving yet?
[= Should we leave now? / Do you want to leave now?]
65. 
我哋
ngo5 dei6haang4mei6aa3?
wewalkyetSP
Are we walking yet?
[= Should we start off now? / Do you want to start off now?]
66. 
hou2aa3,zau2laa1.
goodSPleaveSP
Good. [= Yes.] Let’s leave.
67. 
hou2aa3,haang4laa1.
goodSPwalkSP
Good. [= Yes.] Let’s walk. [= Let’s start off.]
68. 
一陣
ngo5soeng2co5do1jat1 zan6sin1aa3.
Iwant tositmorea momentfirstSP
I want to sit for a moment more first.
69. 
洗手間
ngo5soeng2heoi3jat1heoi3sai2 sau2 gaan1sin1aa3.
Iwant togoonegowashroomfirstSP
I want to go to the washroom first.

When we leave the restaurant, the server may sometimes say:

70. 
多謝晒拜拜
do1 ze6 saai3,baai1 baai3.
thank you so muchbye
Thank you so much. Bye.
  • Since we are giving money to the restaurant, the server will say 多謝 do1 ze6 instead of 唔該 m4 goi1.

Made with in Hong Kong.

© 2025 Open Cantonese. All rights reserved.