支付 (zhī fù) is a verb meaning 'to pay' — specifically, to transfer money for goods, services, or obligations. The character 支 (zhī) originally meant 'to support' or 'to supply', and 付 (fù) means 'to hand over' or 'to deliver'. Together, they convey the idea of handing over money as part of a transaction. It's commonly used in formal, commercial, and digital contexts — such as paying bills, settling invoices, or completing online purchases.

This word is neutral in register but leans slightly formal; it’s more common in written Chinese and official speech than in casual conversation, where people might use simpler alternatives like 付钱 (fù qián). 支付 often appears with objects indicating the method (e.g., 微信支付 wēixìn zhīfù 'WeChat Pay') or the amount (e.g., 支付一百元 zhīfù yì bǎi yuán 'pay one hundred yuan'). It can also function as a noun meaning 'payment', especially in compound terms like 支付方式 (zhīfù fāngshì, 'payment method').