You are at the checkout in China, wallet in hand, and the cashier says something you cannot quite catch. The word you need is 信用卡 (xìn yòng kǎ): credit card. This guide gives you the word, the tones, the characters behind it, and the phrases that get you through any payment situation in China, from hotel check-in to a street stall that only takes QR codes.
By the end, you will be able to ask 可以刷信用卡吗？, understand the answer, and know when a card works in China and when you need WeChat Pay, Alipay, or cash instead.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- The word for credit card in Chinese is 信用卡 (xìn yòng kǎ).
- China has largely moved to mobile payments (WeChat Pay, Alipay), but credit cards are still accepted at major retailers and hotels.
- Related terms include debit card (借记卡 jiè jì kǎ), swipe card (刷卡 shuā kǎ), and ATM (自动取款机 zì dòng qǔ kuǎn jī).
- Always carry cash as a backup, especially at smaller shops and street vendors.
How to Say Credit Card in Chinese
The standard translation for credit card in Mandarin Chinese is:
信用卡
Pinyin: xìn yòng kǎ
Literal breakdown:
- 信 xìn: trust, faith, credit
- 用 yòng: use, usage
- 卡 kǎ: card (loanword from English “card”)
So 信用卡 literally means “trust-use card” or “credit-use card.” The word 卡 kǎ is used for all types of cards in modern Chinese: credit cards, debit cards, ID cards, and even game cards.
Pronunciation Breakdown
Let us break down the pronunciation syllable by syllable:
- xìn: pronounced like “shin” with a falling tone (fourth tone). Start high and drop sharply.
- yòng: pronounced like “yong” with a falling tone (fourth tone). Drop from mid to low.
- kǎ: pronounced like “ka” with a dipping tone (third tone). Start low, dip, then rise.
At natural speed, the third tone on kǎ is usually pronounced as a half-third tone: low and flat, without the final rise. Keep xìn and yòng short and sharp, let kǎ stay low, and you will sound natural.
Related Vocabulary
Here are the essential financial terms you need alongside how to say credit card in Chinese:
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| credit card | 信用卡 | xìn yòng kǎ |
| debit card | 借记卡 | jiè jì kǎ |
| bank card | 银行卡 | yín háng kǎ |
| to swipe card | 刷卡 | shuā kǎ |
| ATM | 自动取款机 | zì dòng qǔ kuǎn jī |
| cash | 现金 | xiàn jīn |
| password / PIN | 密码 | mì mǎ |
| to pay | 付款 | fù kuǎn |
| receipt | 发票 | fā piào |
| discount | 打折 | dǎ zhé |
Cultural Context
Understanding how to say credit card in Chinese is only half the battle. You also need to understand how payments actually work in China.
China has famously leapfrogged credit cards and moved directly to mobile payments. WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate the market, and even street vendors and taxi drivers prefer QR code payments over cash or cards. In many situations, pulling out a physical credit card will earn you a confused look.
However, credit cards are still essential in certain contexts:
- International hotels and upscale restaurants
- Airport duty-free shops
- Online shopping on international platforms
- Large purchases where mobile payment limits apply
Foreign credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are increasingly accepted in China after government initiatives to improve payment infrastructure for tourists. UnionPay is the dominant domestic card network, and having a UnionPay card will give you the widest acceptance.
If you are living in China long-term, opening a Chinese bank account and getting a local debit card (借记卡 jiè jì kǎ) will make your daily life much smoother than relying solely on foreign credit cards.
Before: you hold up the checkout line while the cashier repeats a question you cannot understand. After: you ask 可以刷信用卡吗？, hear 我们只收微信 (we only take WeChat), and pay by QR code without breaking stride.
Advanced ways for how to say credit card in Chinese sentences
Here are practical sentence patterns for using 信用卡 (xìn yòng kǎ) in real conversations:
1. Can I pay with credit card?
我可以刷信用卡吗？
Wǒ kě yǐ shuā xìn yòng kǎ ma?
2. Do you accept foreign credit cards?
你们接受外国信用卡吗？
Nǐ men jiē shòu wài guó xìn yòng kǎ ma?
3. My credit card limit is 10,000 yuan.
我的信用卡额度是一万块。
Wǒ de xìn yòng kǎ é dù shì yī wàn kuài.
4. I forgot my credit card password.
我忘记我的信用卡密码了。
Wǒ wàng jì wǒ de xìn yòng kǎ mì mǎ le.
5. Please swipe my card.
请刷我的卡。
Qǐng shuā wǒ de kǎ.
6. I prefer to use mobile payment.
我更喜欢用手机支付。
Wǒ gèng xǐ huān yòng shǒu jī zhī fù.
7. This restaurant only accepts cash.
这家餐厅只收现金。
Zhè jiā cān tīng zhǐ shōu xiàn jīn.
8. I need to pay off my credit card bill.
我要还信用卡账单。
Wǒ yào huán xìn yòng kǎ zhàng dān.
Walk up to the register without these sentences and you are stuck pointing at your wallet, hoping the cashier guesses what you mean. If you want a real teacher to check your tones before your next trip, book a discounted trial lesson on italki and rehearse the whole checkout conversation: card, cash, or QR code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is credit card commonly used in China?
Credit cards are less common than mobile payments in daily Chinese life. WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate most transactions. However, credit cards are still accepted at hotels, upscale restaurants, airports, and large retailers.
Can I use my foreign Visa or Mastercard in China?
Yes, but acceptance varies. Major cities and tourist areas increasingly accept foreign cards, especially after 2024 government initiatives to improve payment infrastructure. Smaller shops and street vendors typically do not accept foreign cards.
What is the difference between 信用卡 and 借记卡?
信用卡 (xìn yòng kǎ) is a credit card: you borrow money from the bank. 借记卡 (jiè jì kǎ) is a debit card: you spend money directly from your bank account. Debit cards are far more common for daily use in China.
How do I ask for a receipt when paying by card?
Say “请给我发票” (Qǐng gěi wǒ fā piào): “Please give me a receipt.” In China, the official receipt called 发票 (fā piào) is important for business expense claims and sometimes required for refunds.
How do you say credit card in Cantonese?
In Cantonese, 信用卡 is pronounced seon3 jung6 kaat1 (Jyutping). The written characters are identical to Mandarin, so signs and forms in Hong Kong and Guangdong look the same. In mainland China, Mandarin xìn yòng kǎ is all you need.
What is a Visa card in Chinese?
A Visa credit card is usually called Visa卡 (Visa kǎ) in everyday Chinese, sometimes written 维萨卡 (wéi sà kǎ). Do not confuse it with the travel document: a visa for entering China is 签证 (qiān zhèng), covered in our guide on how to say visa in Chinese.
Last updated: October 2026. Payment acceptance in China changes fast, so check with your hotel or bank before a trip.
You might also be interested in learning more everyday Chinese vocabulary. Check out these guides: bill, discount, expensive, cheap, receipt, buy, password.
For authoritative references on Chinese financial vocabulary, see Yoyo Chinese for character breakdowns, MDBG for comprehensive dictionary definitions, China Briefing for business context, and Wikipedia’s WeChat Pay article for background on how mobile payments took over daily life in China.
