Understanding 账单 (zhàngdān)
The word 账单 refers to a bill or invoice, commonly used in contexts like restaurants, hotels, utilities, or any service where payment is required. It is a formal term often seen in written or spoken Chinese when discussing payments.
Usage and Context
When you ask for the 账单 in a restaurant, you are requesting the check to pay. It can also refer to any detailed statement of charges, such as a utility bill or a hotel invoice.
Common Collocations
- 结账单 (jié zhàngdān): to settle the bill
- 账单金额 (zhàngdān jīn’é): the amount on the bill
- 账单错误 (zhàngdān cuòwù): error in the bill
Tips
账单 is more formal than just saying 钱 or 费用 and is specifically about the itemized statement of charges. Avoid confusing it with 票据 (piàojù), which is more like a receipt or voucher. When speaking, you can say 请给我账单 to politely ask for the bill.