Meaning
买单 literally means 'to buy the bill' and refers to paying for a meal or service at a restaurant, bar, or similar establishment. It's the most common colloquial term used when settling a bill in Chinese-speaking regions, roughly equivalent to asking for the check in English.
Usage
This is the standard informal term used in restaurants and casual dining settings. When you're ready to pay, you can call the server and say '买单!' In formal business contexts, 结账 (jié zhàng) might be preferred. The term can also figuratively mean 'to pay the price' or 'to bear the consequences' of something.
Examples
- 01服务员，买单！, !Waiter, the check please!
- 02今天我请客，让我来买单。, .Today I'm treating, let me pay the bill.
Characters
Common collocations
- 抢着买单to fight over who pays the bill
- AA制买单to split the bill, to go Dutch
- 我来买单I'll get the bill, it's on me
- 买单了吗have you paid yet?
Origin
The term combines 买 (to buy) with 单 (bill/invoice), creating the concept of 'purchasing the bill' or settling one's account. This usage developed naturally in Chinese commercial contexts.