Banking, Transfers and Payments in Chinese

Banking language should be precise. Learn the phrases, but rely on the bank’s official instructions for procedures, security and documents. Never read a password, verification code or full account number aloud to an unsolicited caller.

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
我想转账。	Wǒ xiǎng zhuǎnzhàng.	I would like to make a transfer.
手续费是多少？	Shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?	What is the fee?
什么时候到账？	Shénme shíhou dàozhàng?	When will it arrive?
我需要一份收据。	Wǒ xūyào yí fèn shōujù.	I need a receipt.

Conversation: confirm cost and timing

Customer: 我想转账到国外。手续费是多少？
(Wǒ xiǎng zhuǎnzhàng dào guówài. Shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?)
Staff: 我帮您确认一下。您需要普通还是加急？
(Wǒ bāng nín quèrèn yíxià. Nín xūyào pǔtōng háishi jiājí?)
Customer: 普通的就可以。请问什么时候到账？
(Pǔtōng de jiù kěyǐ. Qǐngwèn shénme shíhou dàozhàng?)

到账 (dàozhàng) means that funds have arrived in the recipient account. It is more specific than merely saying “sent.”

Conversation: a payment did not go through

Customer: 我刚才付款了，可是显示失败。
(Wǒ gāngcái fùkuǎn le, kěshì xiǎnshì shībài.)
Staff: 请不要重复付款。我先帮您查一下记录。
(Qǐng bú yào chóngfù fùkuǎn. Wǒ xiān bāng nín chá yíxià jìlù.)

Keep a screenshot and transaction time. In a real dispute, use the service’s official support channel rather than a chat message from an unknown account.

Speak safely

Say 我可以在这里填写吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ tiánxiě ma?) (“Can I fill it in here?”) if you need privacy. A legitimate staff member will not need your password or one-time code.

Related: administration, police and insurance for the office counters where you will show the same documents, and housing for rent and utilities.

By the end of this chapter, you can say

我想转账。手续费是多少？ (Wǒ xiǎng zhuǎnzhàng. Shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?)

Practical note for this chapter

Optional chapters for living, working and studying long-term. Confirm important rules with official sources. In this chapter, practice giving a short response and then checking what matters.

Use it in context

A: 您想办理什么业务？ (Nín xiǎng bànlǐ shénme yèwù?)
B: 我想转账。手续费是多少？ (Wǒ xiǎng zhuǎnzhàng. Shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?)

Phrase map for this chapter

Question or situation: 您想办理什么业务？ (Nín xiǎng bànlǐ shénme yèwù?)
Central response: 我想转账。手续费是多少？ (Wǒ xiǎng zhuǎnzhàng. Shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?)
Another natural way to say it: 转账手续费是多少？什么时候到账？ (Zhuǎnzhàng shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao? Shénme shíhou dàozhàng?); Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.
How to use it: Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

Turn the model into three conversation turns

1. Open the situation您想办理什么业务？ (Nín xiǎng bànlǐ shénme yèwù?)
2. Say the central response我想转账。手续费是多少？ (Wǒ xiǎng zhuǎnzhàng. Shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?)
3. Add an alternative转账手续费是多少？什么时候到账？ (Zhuǎnzhàng shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao? Shénme shíhou dàozhàng?)

Before acting, check the point most likely to cause a misunderstanding. This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

A useful variation

Keep the same purpose, then change the person, time or place to make it your own.

转账手续费是多少？什么时候到账？ (Zhuǎnzhàng shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao? Shénme shíhou dàozhàng?)

Use this variation in a situation you genuinely expect to handle.

Listen to the model once, then say it again with one detail from your own situation.

A common trap

For important details, do not decide from what you think you heard; check written information when needed.

金融信息要以书面和官方说明为准，不要只凭口头理解。 (Jīnróng xìnxī yào yǐ shūmiàn hé guānfāng shuōmíng wéi zhǔn, bù yào zhǐ píng kǒutóu lǐjiě.)

This dialogue is for practice. For important decisions, confirm official guidance as well.

Three-step practice

Open the situation in one short phrase
Say the central response
Add one detail of your own