支票

• Pinyin: zhī piào
• Hanzi breakdown: 支 = 十 + 又 (branch out — disbursement); 票 = 西 + 示 (certificate/note)

Meaning

A cheque; a written order directing a bank to pay a specified sum from the drawer's account.

A financial instrument used in banking. Types include 现金支票 (cash cheque), 转账支票 (transfer cheque), and 空头支票 (bounced cheque, also used figuratively for empty promises). Usage declining with digital payments.

Examples

1. 他签了一张支票，支付这笔大额采购款项。 He wrote a check to pay for the large purchase.
2. 银行提醒客户注意防范支票诈骗的风险。 The bank reminded customers to watch out for the risk of check fraud.
3. 政客竞选时常开空头支票，承诺难以兑现。 Politicians often write checks they can’t cash during campaigns, making promises they can’t deliver.

Usage Guide

Context: banking, finance, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请在支票上签名并注明日期后再交给收款人。(Please sign the cheque and note the date before handing it to the payee.)
• 随着移动支付的普及，支票使用率大幅下降。(With the spread of mobile payments, cheque usage has dropped significantly.)

Don't Say

• 我给你写一张支票作为生日礼物 — in casual contexts, this sounds overly formal; for everyday gifts, just say 给你转账 or 送你红包

Origin & History

支 (pay out/disburse) + 票 (note/certificate)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal