When combined, 取钱 (qǔ qián) literally means “to take money,” a straightforward and logical construction for the act of withdrawing cash.
While withdrawing money is a universal activity, the context of 取钱 (qǔ qián) in modern China is unique due to the country's rapid and widespread adoption of mobile payments. In the West, the shift to a cashless society has been gradual. In China, particularly in urban areas, the transition has been meteoric. Platforms like 支付宝 (Alipay) and 微信支付 (WeChat Pay) dominate daily transactions, from buying street food to paying rent. Consequently, the physical act of 取钱 has become far less frequent for many locals than it was just a decade ago. For a Westerner visiting China, this can be a surprising cultural difference. You might find that many vendors, especially small ones, prefer mobile payments and may not have much change for large bills. However, the need to 取钱 still exists, especially for travelers, for use in more rural areas, for certain government services, or simply as a backup. Therefore, knowing how to 取钱 is a crucial survival skill, even in a hyper-modern, increasingly cashless China. It represents the bridge between the traditional cash-based economy and the new digital one.
取钱 (qǔ qián) is the default, neutral term used in most daily conversations.
The phrase is almost always used in a neutral, transactional context.