How to say “Do you take cash?” in Chinese
“Do you take cash?” in Chinese is 收现金吗？, written in pinyin as Shōu xiànjīn ma?.
收现金吗？
Shōu xiànjīn ma?
Do you take cash?
Word by word
What each part of 收现金吗？ actually means.
- 收shōuto accept / to receive
- 现金xiànjīncash
- 吗mayes/no question particle
When you use it
- Use it at small stalls and older shops where QR codes dominate — cash remains legal tender and this question does the insisting politely.
- It also settles things on day one, before your payment app is linked and tested with a small payment.
Use 收现金吗？ in shopping situations. Prices, sizes, bargaining and paying.
Other ways people say it
The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.
能用现金吗？
Néng yòng xiànjīn ma?
Can I use cash?
现金可以吗？
Xiànjīn kěyǐ ma?
Is cash okay?
收纸币吗？
Shōu zhǐbì ma?
Do you take banknotes?
What usually trips people up
- Assuming no QR means no sale — by law RMB cash must be accepted; a polite 重复 ask usually produces a drawer somewhere.
- Offering big notes at street stalls — a 100-yuan note can exceed a vendor's float; carry 10s and 20s for markets.
- Expecting card terminals — foreign Visa and Mastercard fail almost everywhere in person; cash and Alipay are the two working rails.
What you might hear back
- 收，我找您钱。Shōu, wǒ zhǎo nín qiánWe take it — I'll make change.
- 有零钱吗？Yǒu língqián ma?Do you have smaller notes?
- 最好扫码，现金也行。Zuìhǎo sǎomǎ, xiànjīn yě xíngQR is easier, but cash works.
Common questions
- How do you say "Do you take cash?" in Chinese?
- "Do you take cash?" in Chinese is 收现金吗？ — written in pinyin as Shōu xiànjīn ma?. It is a shopping phrase you would use in China.
- What does 收现金吗？ mean in Chinese?
- 收现金吗？ (Shōu xiànjīn ma?) means "Do you take cash?". Broken down word by word: 收 (shōu) means "to accept / to receive"; 现金 (xiànjīn) means "cash"; 吗 (ma) means "yes/no question particle".
- When would you use "Do you take cash?" in Chinese?
- Use it at small stalls and older shops where QR codes dominate — cash remains legal tender and this question does the insisting politely. It also settles things on day one, before your payment app is linked and tested with a small payment.
Where you'll use it
收现金吗？ comes up in these situations, in this order.
More Shopping phrases
Learn all 18 Shopping phrases
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