Paying by card or cash

Neutral Neutral

What it really means

The UK is largely cashless — contactless card or phone is accepted almost everywhere, even for tiny amounts, and many places prefer it. Carry a little cash for markets, some small shops and the odd cash-only pub, but you rarely need much.

Chinese explanation

英国基本进入无现金社会——刷卡或手机非接触支付几乎处处可用，小额也行，很多地方还更偏好这种方式。集市、部分小店和个别只收现金的酒吧要带点现金，但通常用不了多少。

Example conversation

A: Do I need cash here? B: Rarely — card or phone works nearly everywhere. Maybe a few coins for the market.

A：这里需要现金吗？ B：很少需要——刷卡或手机几乎处处能用。也许集市上带几个硬币。

What you could say back

“I'll just use contactless then.”

Related phrases

Service charge Splitting the bill Asking what someone paid for something

Go deeper

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Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team · Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake