How to say “Can we pay separately?” in Chinese
“Can we pay separately?” in Chinese is 可以分开付吗？, written in pinyin as Kěyǐ fēnkāi fù ma?.
可以分开付吗？
Kěyǐ fēnkāi fù ma?
Can we pay separately?
Word by word
What each part of 可以分开付吗？ actually means.
- 可以kěyǐcan / may
- 分开fēnkāiseparately
- 付fùto pay
- 吗mayes/no question particle
When you use it
- Use it when a group splits a bill — ask before anyone pays, then each person scans the table's code separately.
- It also covers the coupon case, where one person pays with a deal and the others settle privately.
Use 可以分开付吗？ in money situations. Pay like a local: QR codes, Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash and cards.
Other ways people say it
The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.
我们各付各的。
Wǒmen gè fù gè de
We'll each pay our own.
一人扫一次行吗？
Yì rén sǎo yí cì xíng ma?
Can each of us scan once?
AA制可以吗？
AA zhì kěyǐ ma?
Can we split it evenly?
What usually trips people up
- Expecting a split-the-bill button — there is none at the table; AA happens by separate scans, one person per code.
- Confusing AA制 with 各付各的 — AA splits the total evenly; 各付各的 means everyone pays for what they ordered.
- Asking the waiter to divide — the kitchen brings one bill; the splitting happens at the QR step, not on paper.
What you might hear back
- 可以，一人扫一次。Kěyǐ, yì rén sǎo yí cìSure — one scan each.
- 我先付，你们转我。Wǒ xiān fù, nǐmen zhuǎn wǒI'll pay first, you all transfer me.
- 扫桌上的码就行。Sǎo zhuō shàng de mǎ jiù xíngJust scan the code on the table.
Common questions
- How do you say "Can we pay separately?" in Chinese?
- "Can we pay separately?" in Chinese is 可以分开付吗？ — written in pinyin as Kěyǐ fēnkāi fù ma?. It is a money phrase you would use in China.
- What does 可以分开付吗？ mean in Chinese?
- 可以分开付吗？ (Kěyǐ fēnkāi fù ma?) means "Can we pay separately?". Broken down word by word: 可以 (kěyǐ) means "can / may"; 分开 (fēnkāi) means "separately"; 付 (fù) means "to pay"; 吗 (ma) means "yes/no question particle".
- When would you use "Can we pay separately?" in Chinese?
- Use it when a group splits a bill — ask before anyone pays, then each person scans the table's code separately. It also covers the coupon case, where one person pays with a deal and the others settle privately.
Where you'll use it
可以分开付吗？ comes up in these situations, in this order.
More Money phrases
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