====== zhīfù: 支付 - To Pay, Payment ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 支付, zhifu, how to pay in China, Chinese word for pay, mobile payment China, Alipay, WeChat Pay, 支付宝, 微信支付, zhifu meaning, what does zhifu mean, paying in Chinese
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **支付 (zhīfù)**, the essential Chinese word for "to pay." This term is at the heart of modern China's nearly cashless society. Learn how **支付 (zhīfù)** is used in everyday life, from mobile payments with Alipay and WeChat Pay to online shopping and paying bills. This guide provides practical examples, cultural insights, and a clear breakdown of how to use **支付 (zhīfù)** correctly, making it a must-read for anyone traveling to or doing business with China.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zhī fù
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To pay money for goods, services, or bills.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **支付 (zhīfù)** is the standard, all-purpose verb for "to pay." While you might use other words in casual conversation, **支付 (zhīfù)** is the term you'll see on buttons in apps, on websites, and in formal contexts. It represents the act of transferring funds, especially in the digital, mobile-first economy of modern China.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **支 (zhī):** This character can mean "to support," "branch," or "to expend/pay out." Think of it as a branch of your funds being extended to someone else. Its original pictograph shows a hand holding a branch.
  * **付 (fù):** This character means "to hand over" or "to give." It's composed of the radicals for a person (亻) and a hand (寸), vividly depicting the act of giving something to someone.
  * Together, **支付 (zhīfù)** literally means "to expend and hand over," which perfectly captures the modern concept of making a payment or transferring funds.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The term **支付 (zhīfù)** is more than just a word; it's a gateway to understanding the engine of modern Chinese daily life: the digital economy.
In the West, "paying" brings to mind cash, credit cards, or maybe tapping a phone. In China, **支付 (zhīfù)** is almost exclusively synonymous with **移动支付 (yídòng zhīfù) - mobile payment**. The country has leapfrogged the credit card era and moved directly into a society where QR codes reign supreme. The two giants, **支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo - Alipay)** and **微信支付 (Wēixìn Zhīfù - WeChat Pay)**, dominate every corner of commerce.
Unlike in the US where digital payment is a //convenience//, in many parts of urban China it's a //necessity//. Street food vendors, local markets, and even buskers will present a QR code for you to scan and **支付**. Many smaller shops no longer accept cash or foreign credit cards. This rapid, widespread adoption reflects a cultural value of embracing efficiency (效率, xiàolǜ) and cutting-edge technology. For a learner, understanding how to **支付** is as fundamental as knowing how to say "hello" or "thank you."
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
You will encounter **支付 (zhīfù)** constantly in digital and commercial settings.
  * **Mobile & Online Payments:** This is the most common context. When you buy something online or use an app, the button to complete the transaction will almost always say **支付**. You will also use it when talking about the action itself. For example, "I'll use my phone to pay" (我用手机支付).
  * **Scanning QR Codes:** The most iconic action in modern China. You scan a merchant's QR code (二维码, èrwéimǎ) to **支付**.
  * **Paying Bills:** The term is used for more formal transactions like paying utility bills (支付账单, zhīfù zhàngdān), rent, or tuition.
  * **Formality:** **支付 (zhīfù)** is a neutral-to-slightly-formal term. It's more formal than the colloquial `付钱 (fùqián)` but perfectly normal in most daily situations, especially those involving technology.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 您想怎么**支付**？
    * Pinyin: Nín xiǎng zěnme **zhīfù**?
    * English: How would you like to pay?
    * Analysis: A standard, polite question a cashier or service provider would ask. `您 (nín)` makes it polite.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 我可以用微信**支付**吗？
    * Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn **zhīfù** ma?
    * English: Can I pay with WeChat?
    * Analysis: An essential phrase for any visitor to China. `用 (yòng)` means "to use," so this literally translates to "I can use WeChat to pay?"
  * **Example 3:**
    * 请扫描这个二维码来**支付**。
    * Pinyin: Qǐng sǎomiáo zhège èrwéimǎ lái **zhīfù**.
    * English: Please scan this QR code to pay.
    * Analysis: You will hear this everywhere, from restaurants to street vendors. `扫描 (sǎomiáo)` means "to scan."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这件商品的钱我已经**支付**了。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shāngpǐn de qián wǒ yǐjīng **zhīfù** le.
    * English: I have already paid for this item.
    * Analysis: `已经...了 (yǐjīng...le)` is a common structure indicating a completed action. Used frequently in online shopping contexts.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 你每个月需要**支付**多少水电费？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ měi ge yuè xūyào **zhīfù** duōshǎo shuǐdiànfèi?
    * English: How much do you need to pay for utilities each month?
    * Analysis: Shows the use of **支付** for recurring bills. `水电费 (shuǐdiànfèi)` means "water and electricity fees."
  * **Example 6:**
    * 对不起，您的**支付**失败了。
    * Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, nín de **zhīfù** shībài le.
    * English: Sorry, your payment failed.
    * Analysis: Here, **支付** is used as a noun ("payment"). `失败 (shībài)` means "to fail."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 支付宝让移动**支付**变得非常方便。
    * Pinyin: Zhīfùbǎo ràng yídòng **zhīfù** biànde fēicháng fāngbiàn.
    * English: Alipay makes mobile payment become extremely convenient.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses the related term `移动支付 (yídòng zhīfù)`, mobile payment, showing how the core word is a building block.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 我们的网站支持多种**支付**方式。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de wǎngzhàn zhīchí duōzhǒng **zhīfù** fāngshì.
    * English: Our website supports multiple payment methods.
    * Analysis: Here **支付** modifies `方式 (fāngshì)` to mean "payment methods." `支持 (zhīchí)` means "to support."
  * **Example 9:**
    * 所有款项必须在月底前**支付**。
    * Pinyin: Suǒyǒu kuǎnxiàng bìxū zài yuèdǐ qián **zhīfù**.
    * English: All funds must be paid before the end of the month.
    * Analysis: A formal example you might see in a contract or invoice. `款项 (kuǎnxiàng)` is a formal word for "funds" or "sum of money."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 点击这里完成**支付**。
    * Pinyin: Diǎnjī zhèlǐ wánchéng **zhīfù**.
    * English: Click here to complete the payment.
    * Analysis: A very common instruction on websites and in apps. `点击 (diǎnjī)` means "to click" and `完成 (wánchéng)` means "to complete."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **支付 (zhīfù)**, **付款 (fùkuǎn)**, and **付钱 (fùqián)**.
  * **支付 (zhīfù) (Verb):** The standard, slightly formal term. It emphasizes the //action// of payment, especially in digital or official contexts. It's the most versatile term.
  * **付款 (fùkuǎn) (Verb/Noun):** Means "to make a payment" or "the payment (itself)." It feels a bit more transactional and is very common in e-commerce and business. The character `款 (kuǎn)` specifically refers to a sum of money. You will often see "等待买家付款" (waiting for buyer to make payment) on Taobao.
  * **付钱 (fùqián) (Verb):** The most colloquial and direct term. It literally means "to hand over money." You use this in everyday spoken language, like telling a friend, "It's my turn to pay" (轮到我付钱了).
**Common Mistake:** Using **支付** in a very casual setting where **付钱** would be more natural.
  * **Incorrect:** (To a close friend at a snack stall) 你**支付**了吗？ (Nǐ zhīfù le ma?)
  * **Why it's awkward:** This sounds a bit stiff and formal, like you're conducting a business transaction.
  * **Correct:** 你**付钱**了吗？(Nǐ fùqián le ma?) - "Did you pay?" This is much more natural and common among friends.
Think of it this way: You **付钱 (fùqián)** for a coffee with a friend, but you **支付 (zhīfù)** your monthly phone bill online.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[付款]] (fùkuǎn) - To make a payment; often used in business or e-commerce contexts. More transactional than `支付`.
  * [[付钱]] (fùqián) - To pay money; a very common and colloquial term for paying in everyday life.
  * [[移动支付]] (yídòng zhīfù) - Mobile payment; the dominant form of payment in China.
  * [[支付宝]] (Zhīfùbǎo) - Alipay; a leading third-party mobile and online payment platform. Its name literally means "Payment Treasure."
  * [[微信支付]] (Wēixìn Zhīfù) - WeChat Pay; the other major payment platform, integrated into the WeChat social media app.
  * [[买单]] (mǎidān) - To pay the bill (lit. "buy the bill"), specifically used in restaurants and bars. Very colloquial.
  * [[二维码]] (èrwéimǎ) - QR code; the technology that enables most mobile payments in China.
  * [[账单]] (zhàngdān) - A bill or invoice; the document that you need to `支付`.
  * [[现金]] (xiànjīn) - Cash; what is rarely used in modern Chinese cities.
  * [[信用卡]] (xìnyòngkǎ) - Credit card; also less common than mobile payment for daily transactions in China.