bill

Compared meaning: a document showing money that is owed (noun).

比较义项：账单/发票类单据（记录应付款项）（名词）。

• bill 本词

  The common, everyday word for money owed for a service already used (electricity, phone, restaurant, hotel); usually received by an ordinary customer and expected to be paid soon.

  这是日常用语，指已经使用某项服务后需要支付的钱（如电费、电话费、餐费、酒店费用等）；通常由普通顾客收到，且需要尽快支付。

  Please remember to pay the electricity bill before Friday.

  请记得在星期五之前支付电费账单。

• invoice

  A formal document that itemizes goods or services provided and their prices, issued by a seller or supplier to request payment, often with stated payment terms.

  这是较为正式的单据，逐项列出所提供的商品或服务及其价格，由卖方或供应商开具以要求付款，通常还附有付款期限等条款。

  The supplier attached an invoice listing every item and its price.

  供应商附上了一份发票，列出了每件商品及其价格。

Bill and invoice both name a document showing money owed, but differ in formality. Bill is the everyday word, for money owed after a service, like electricity. Invoice is more formal, listing goods or services and prices. This excludes bill meaning law or paper money.

这两个词都指记录应付款项的单据，容易混淆，但正式程度和使用场景不同：bill 更口语化、日常化，常指已经使用某项服务后要付的钱；invoice 更正式，是逐项列明商品或服务及其价格的商业单据。这里不比较 bill 的“议案”“钞票”等其他含义。