Top up (an Oyster)
TOP UP /tɒp ʌp/
Informal Neutral
What it really means
To add money to your Oyster card. You can top up at ticket machines, in some shops, or in the TfL app. If your balance is too low, the gates will not open.
Chinese explanation
给Oyster卡充值。可以在售票机、部分便利店或TfL手机应用里充。余额不足时闸机不会开门。
Example conversation
A: The gate will not open for me.
B: Your balance is probably too low. You can top up at that machine over there.
A：闸机不给我开门。
B：可能是余额不够了，你可以在那边的机器上充值。
Official sources
Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.
All Transport
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake