付现金

You can use it as a statement or a question. If you are at a checkout, you can say 我想付现金 (I want to pay cash). If you want to ask if they accept it, just add a question particle. It acts like a standard verb-object phrase in your sentence. Use it when the waiter brings the bill or at a market stall.

Use it at small local shops or 'hole-in-the-wall' restaurants. It is perfect for wet markets where vendors prefer physical money. Use it when you want to get rid of heavy coins in your pocket. It is also great for splitting a bill with friends when one person paid digitally. You can hand them a bill and say this phrase to settle your debt.

Do not use it as a way to describe a 'bribe' in a professional setting. That requires different, more subtle vocabulary. Avoid using it at high-end tech stores where they might look at your paper money like a museum artifact. In China, many places are so digital-centric that they might not have change. If you see a 'No Cash' sign, keep this phrase in your pocket.

China has leapfrogged from cash straight to mobile payments like WeChat and Alipay. Because of this, 付现金 has become a bit of a 'vintage' move. In big cities, paying with cash can actually be slower than using your phone. However, the government recently mandated that all businesses must still accept cash. So, using this phrase is actually exercising your consumer rights!

You might hear people say 用现金 (use cash) which is almost identical. In very casual settings, people might just hold up a bill and say 现金? (Cash?). If you are at a bank, you might hear 取现 which means to withdraw cash. But for everyday shopping, 付现金 is your reliable, go-to expression.