Receipts in China can be confusing if you don’t know what to look for. Whether you’re dining out, shopping, or taking a taxi, understanding your receipt helps avoid billing mistakes. This guide breaks down key terms, common errors, and what to do when something looks wrong—all with pinyin to help you learn as you go.
Basic Receipt Structure
| Section | Chinese | Pinyin |
| Merchant Name | 商家名称 | Shāngjiā míngchēng |
| Date/Time | 日期/时间 | Rìqī/Shíjiān |
| Order Number | 订单号 | Dìngdān hào |
| Items | 商品/项目 | Shāngpǐn/Xiàngmù |
| Unit Price | 单价 | Dānjià |
| Quantity | 数量 | Shùliàng |
| Subtotal | 小计 | Xiǎojì |
| Service Fee | 服务费 | Fúwù fèi |
| Discount | 优惠/折扣 | Yōuhuì/Zhékòu |
| Tax | 税 | Shuì |
| Total | 总计/应付金额 | Zǒngjì/Yīngfù jīn’é |
| Payment Method | 支付方式 | Zhīfù fāngshì |
Common Overcharge Red Flags
1. Incorrect Quantity (Shùliàng cuòwù 数量错误)
What happens:
- You order 2 beers (Píjiǔ 啤酒 x2) but get charged for 3
- Common in busy restaurants or group orders
What to say:
Wǒmen zhǐ diǎnle liǎng ge píjiǔ, dàn zhèlǐ xiě sān ge.
我们只点了两个啤酒，但这里写三个。
We only ordered two beers, but this shows three.
2. Hidden Fees (Yǐnxíng fèi 隐形费)
Common sneaky charges:
- Fúwù fèi 服务费 (Service charge): 10-15% added automatically
- Chá wèi fèi 茶位费 (Tea fee): ¥5-20 per person for tea you didn’t request
- Cān jīn 餐巾 (Napkin fee): Small charge for packaged napkins
How to avoid:
Ask before ordering:
Yǒu fúwù fèi huò qítā fèiyòng ma?
有服务费或其他费用吗？
Is there a service fee or other charges?
Refuse unwanted items:
Wǒmen bù yào chá, qǐng qùdiào chá wèi fèi.
我们不要茶，请去掉茶位费。
We don’t want tea, please remove the tea fee.
3. Fake Discounts (Jiǎ zhékòu 假折扣)
How it works:
- Menu shows:Yuánjià 原价 ¥100 (“original price”)
- Yōuhuì jià 优惠价 ¥90 (“discount price”)
But the “original” price was inflated
Red flags:
- No price displayed elsewhere
- Discount seems too good to be true
What to do:
Check prices online beforehand and ask:
Zhège yuánjià shì nǎlǐ de? Wèishéme càidān shàng méiyǒu?
这个原价是哪里的？为什么菜单上没有？
Where is this original price from? Why isn’t it on the menu?
4. Double Charges (Chóngfù shōufèi 重复收费)
Common mistakes: Mǐfàn 米饭 (rice) charged twice
How to catch it:
- Watch for duplicate items
- Check for vague descriptions like “qítā 其他” (other)
What to say:
Zhège mǐfàn yǐjīng suàn guò yī cì le, qǐng qùdiào.
这个米饭已经算过一次了，请去掉。
This rice was already counted once, please remove it.
Now You’re Ready!
Next time you get a receipt in China, you’ll know exactly what to check—and how to speak up if something’s wrong.
Our native teachers help you:
✔️ Read receipts & menus
✔️ Handle shopping & dining
✔️ Dispute billing errors
Want to try before you commit? Get a FREE trial lesson with our expert Chinese teachers!
Quiz: What does “其他 ¥20” most likely mean?
A. A mystery charge you should question
B. A special discount
C. A government tax
Answer: A