话费

• Pinyin: huà fèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 话 = 讠+ 舌 (speech/words); 费 = 弗 + 贝 (fee/expense)

Meaning

Phone bill; the charges incurred for making calls or using mobile phone services.

In China, mobile 话费 can be purchased as prepaid credit (充话费) and used for calls, texts, and data. Topping up credit is a very common everyday transaction done via apps or convenience stores.

Examples

1. 他这个月的话费超出预算，主要是打了很多长途电话。 His phone bill went over budget this month, mainly because he made a lot of long-distance calls.
2. 现在很多人选择套餐来降低每月的话费支出。 These days, many people choose a plan to reduce their monthly phone expenses.
3. 充值话费的方式越来越便捷，手机上就能完成操作。 Topping up phone credit has become more and more convenient—you can do it right from your phone.

Usage Guide

Context: telecommunications, daily life, finances

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我需要去充一下话费，手机快没信号了。(I need to top up my phone credit — my phone is about to lose signal.)
• 这个套餐每月只需八十元，话费和流量都够用。(This plan costs only eighty yuan per month, with enough call credit and data.)

Don't Say

• 话费 for internet data charges specifically — use 流量费 for data costs; 话费 primarily refers to voice call credit and general phone charges

Origin & History

话 (speech/call) + 费 (fee/charge)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal