shuǐfèi: 水费 - Water Bill, Water Fee

• Keywords: shuifei, 水费, Chinese water bill, how to pay water bill in China, utilities in China, living expenses China, jiao shuifei, 交水费, water fee, Chinese for utilities
• Summary: Learn about 水费 (shuǐfèi), the essential Chinese term for the “water bill” or “water fee.” This guide breaks down the characters 水 (water) and 费 (fee), explains how to discuss and pay your utilities in modern China using apps like Alipay, and provides practical example sentences. Understanding 水费 is a fundamental step for anyone renting an apartment, managing a household, or simply navigating daily life in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shuǐfèi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: The fee, bill, or charge for water usage.
• In a Nutshell: 水费 (shuǐfèi) is a straightforward and highly practical compound word. It literally combines “water” (水) and “fee” (费) to mean “water fee.” It's one of the first terms you'll need to know when setting up a home in China, alongside the bills for electricity and gas. There are no hidden or abstract meanings; it's as direct as it sounds.

• 水 (shuǐ): This character means “water.” It's one of the most fundamental pictographic characters, originally depicting a flowing river with streams on either side.
• 费 (fèi): This character means “fee,” “cost,” “charge,” or “expense.” The bottom part, 贝 (bèi), is the radical for “shell,” which was used as an early form of currency in ancient China. Thus, 费 is fundamentally related to money and spending.

When combined, 水 (shuǐ) + 费 (fèi) creates the literal and unambiguous meaning of “water fee” or “water bill.”

While 水费 itself is a universal concept, the process of managing it in China highlights significant cultural and technological shifts. Historically, utilities like water were heavily subsidized by the government and were not a major household expense. Today, with rapid urbanization and a growing focus on resource conservation, water pricing is more market-driven, and public campaigns encouraging people to save water (节约用水, jiéyuē yòngshuǐ) are common. The most significant difference from Western cultures lies in the payment method. In the US or Europe, one might receive a paper bill and pay by check, bank transfer, or a website portal. In modern China, the entire process is dominated by mobile super-apps:

• Mobile-First Mentality: The vast majority of Chinese residents pay their 水费 using 支付宝 (Alipay) or 微信支付 (WeChat Pay). You simply enter your account number from the water company into the app's “Utilities” section (生活缴费, shēnghuó jiǎofèi), and you can pay with a single tap. Many people never see a paper bill.
• Pre-paid vs. Post-paid: In some modern apartment complexes, utilities like water might be pre-paid. You top up your account, and the water is cut off if the balance runs out. This is different from the typical post-paid billing cycle common in the West.

This reliance on integrated digital platforms for everyday tasks like paying the 水费 is a core aspect of modern Chinese life that can be a novel experience for foreigners.

水费 is a neutral term used in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal legal documents like rental contracts.

• Talking about Household Expenses: It is most commonly used when discussing bills with roommates, family, or a landlord. The standard verb used for paying bills is 交 (jiāo), which means “to hand in” or “to submit.” So, “to pay the water bill” is 交水费 (jiāo shuǐfèi).
• Renting an Apartment: When you rent a place, the landlord will clarify which fees are included in the rent (房租, fángzū) and which you must pay separately. You would ask, “房租包括水费吗？” (Fángzū bāokuò shuǐfèi ma?) - “Does the rent include the water bill?”
• On Social Media: People might complain online about a surprisingly high 水费 or share tips on how to save water and money.

• Example 1:
  • 这个月的水费你交了吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhège yuè de shuǐfèi nǐ jiāo le ma?
  • English: Did you pay this month's water bill?
  • Analysis: A very common, everyday question between roommates or spouses. Note the use of the verb 交 (jiāo).
• Example 2:
  • 我们家的水费怎么突然这么高？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā de shuǐfèi zěnme tūrán zhème gāo?
  • English: Why is our family's water bill suddenly so high?
  • Analysis: A common complaint or expression of confusion, perhaps suspecting a leak or a miscalculation.
• Example 3:
  • 房租包括水费和电费吗？
  • Pinyin: Fángzū bāokuò shuǐfèi hé diànfèi ma?
  • English: Does the rent include the water and electricity bills?
  • Analysis: An essential question for anyone renting an apartment in China. 包括 (bāokuò) means “to include.”
• Example 4:
  • 你可以直接在微信上交水费，非常方便。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ zhíjiē zài Wēixìn shàng jiāo shuǐfèi, fēicháng fāngbiàn.
  • English: You can pay the water bill directly on WeChat, it's very convenient.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the modern, tech-integrated way of life in China.
• Example 5:
  • 如果不按时交水费，他们可能会停水。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ bù ànshí jiāo shuǐfèi, tāmen kěnéng huì tíng shuǐ.
  • English: If you don't pay the water bill on time, they might cut off the water.
  • Analysis: This explains the consequence of non-payment. 停水 (tíng shuǐ) literally means “to stop the water.”
• Example 6:
  • 这里的水费是按季度收的，不是按月。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de shuǐfèi shì àn jìdù shōu de, bùshì àn yuè.
  • English: The water fee here is collected quarterly, not monthly.
  • Analysis: This highlights that billing cycles can vary. 按 (àn) means “according to,” so 按季度 (àn jìdù) is “by the quarter.”
• Example 7:
  • 搬家的时候，别忘了结清所有的水费和电费。
  • Pinyin: Bānjiā de shíhòu, bié wàngle jiéqīng suǒyǒu de shuǐfèi hé diànfèi.
  • English: When you move, don't forget to settle all the water and electricity bills.
  • Analysis: 结清 (jiéqīng) is a key verb meaning “to settle up” or “to pay off” an account.
• Example 8:
  • 尊敬的住户，您的水费账单已生成。
  • Pinyin: Zūnjìng de zhùhù, nín de shuǐfèi zhàngdān yǐ shēngchéng.
  • English: Dear resident, your water bill has been generated.
  • Analysis: This is an example of formal, written language you might see in an app notification or an official message.
• Example 9:
  • 为了节约水费，我养成了随手关水龙头的好习惯。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiéyuē shuǐfèi, wǒ yǎngchéngle suíshǒu guān shuǐlóngtóu de hǎo xíguàn.
  • English: In order to save on the water bill, I've developed the good habit of turning off the tap right away.
  • Analysis: This connects the concept of the bill to the action of conservation.
• Example 10:
  • 这张收据证明我们已经付过水费了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng shōujù zhèngmíng wǒmen yǐjīng fùguò shuǐfèi le.
  • English: This receipt proves we have already paid the water bill.
  • Analysis: While 交 (jiāo) is used for the action of paying, 付 (fù), meaning “to pay,” can also be used, especially in a past-tense context like this.

• The Verb is Key: The most common mistake for beginners is choosing the wrong verb. While you `付钱 (fù qián)` (pay money) at a store, for bills and fees, the standard verb is 交 (jiāo).
  • Correct: 我要去交水费。(Wǒ yào qù jiāo shuǐfèi.) - I need to go pay the water bill.
  • Incorrect: 我要去买水费。(Wǒ yào qù mǎi shuǐfèi.) - You don't “buy” a bill.
  • Awkward: 我要去付水费。(Wǒ yào qù fù shuǐfèi.) - While understandable, 交 (jiāo) is much more natural and common.
• Not a Collective Term: In English, “utilities” can refer to water, gas, and electricity collectively. 水费 refers only to water. If you want to talk about multiple utilities, you must name them.
  • Correct: 我交了水电费。(Wǒ jiāo le shuǐdiànfèi.) - I paid the water and electricity bill.
  • Incorrect: 我交了水费。(If you mean you also paid for electricity).

• 电费 (diànfèi): Electricity bill. The direct equivalent for electricity (电).
• 煤气费 (méiqìfèi): Gas bill. The fee for natural gas (煤气).
• 网费 (wǎngfèi): Internet bill. The fee for internet service (网).
• 物业费 (wùyèfèi): Property management fee. A common fee in Chinese apartment complexes covering building maintenance, security, and cleaning.
• 水电费 (shuǐdiànfèi): A very common compound word for “water and electricity bills” collectively.
• 交 (jiāo): The primary verb used for “paying” bills, fees, taxes, or homework. It means “to submit” or “hand in.”
• 账单 (zhàngdān): Bill, check, or statement. A more general term for any kind of bill, not just utilities.
• 费用 (fèiyòng): Expense, cost, fee. A broader and more formal term for any kind of charge.
• 支付宝 (zhīfùbǎo): Alipay. One of the two main mobile payment platforms in China, and a primary tool for paying 水费.
• 微信支付 (wēixìn zhīfù): WeChat Pay. The other dominant mobile payment platform.