Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== páizhào: 牌照 - License, Permit, License Plate ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** paizhao, 牌照, what does paizhao mean, Chinese for license, Chinese for permit, business license in China, driver's license in China, license plate in China, 牌照 meaning, official permit, Chinese bureaucracy * **Summary:** Learn the meaning of **牌照 (páizhào)**, the essential Chinese word for any official license, permit, or license plate. This comprehensive guide explains how **牌照** is used for everything from a driver's license to a business license in China. You'll discover its cultural significance, see practical examples, and understand how it differs from similar words like **执照 (zhízhào)** and **许可证 (xǔkězhèng)**. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** pái zhào * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** An official document, often a plate or card, granting permission to do, use, or own something; a license, permit, or license plate. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **牌照 (páizhào)** as the official "green light" from an authority. It's a formal document that proves you have the legal right to do something significant, like drive a car, operate a business, or practice medicine. The word itself suggests a physical "plate" (牌) that serves as "proof" (照), making it perfect for things like license plates and official posted certificates. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **牌 (pái):** This character means "a placard," "a sign," "a plate," or "a card." Its radical is 片 (piàn), which means a flat slice or piece. Imagine an ancient wooden sign or a modern-day nameplate—that's the feeling of 牌. * **照 (zhào):** This character means "to shine on," "to illuminate," or "a photograph/license." The four dots at the bottom (灬) are the "fire" radical, implying light. It carries the sense of reflecting a truth or providing illumination—in this case, illuminating your official status. When combined, **牌照 (páizhào)** literally translates to a "placard of illumination" or a "plate of proof." This perfectly captures the idea of a physical license or plate that displays one's official, government-approved permission to the world. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In many Western cultures, a "license" is often seen as a routine administrative hurdle. In China, obtaining a **牌照 (páizhào)** can be a much more significant event, deeply tied to concepts of state authority, legitimacy, and social order. A fantastic comparison is the process of getting a car license plate (**车牌照 chē páizhào**) in major Chinese cities like Beijing or Shanghai versus in most American cities. In the U.S., you simply register your car and get a plate. In Beijing, however, due to traffic and pollution controls, you must enter a highly competitive lottery system with incredibly low odds of winning. Some people wait for years. Alternatively, you can buy a plate at auction in Shanghai for a price that can exceed the cost of the car itself. Therefore, a **牌照** is not just a piece of paper or metal; it's a symbol of having successfully navigated a complex bureaucracy. It represents official sanction and entry into a regulated space, whether that's the city's roadways or the nation's marketplace. Getting your first **营业牌照 (yíngyè páizhào)**, or business license, is a major milestone that confers legitimacy and trust upon your enterprise. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **牌照** is a formal and official term used in specific contexts. You won't hear it in casual slang, but it's essential for any interaction involving official registration or certification. * **Vehicles:** This is one of the most common uses. **车牌照 (chē páizhào)** or its shorter form **车牌 (chēpái)** means "car license plate." * **Business Operations:** The **营业牌照 (yíngyè páizhào)** or **营业执照 (yíngyè zhízhào)** is the business license that must be displayed in any legal commercial establishment. * **Professional Practices:** While less common than **执照 (zhízhào)**, you might hear **医生牌照 (yīshēng páizhào)** for a medical license, especially when referring to the physical certificate itself. Its connotation is generally neutral and factual. It's simply the correct term for this category of official document. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 开一家公司，你首先需要申请营业**牌照**。 * Pinyin: Kāi yī jiā gōngsī, nǐ shǒuxiān xūyào shēnqǐng yíngyè **páizhào**. * English: To open a company, you first need to apply for a business license. * Analysis: This is a standard, formal sentence you would encounter when researching how to start a business in China. **营业牌照** is the specific term for a business license. * **Example 2:** * 因为他酒后驾车，警察吊销了他的驾驶**牌照**。 * Pinyin: Yīnwèi tā jiǔhòu jiàchē, jǐngchá diàoxiāo le tā de jiàshǐ **páizhào**. * English: Because he drove drunk, the police revoked his driver's license. * Analysis: Here, **牌照** is used for a driver's license. The verb **吊销 (diàoxiāo)**, meaning "to revoke," is frequently paired with **牌照**. Note that **驾照 (jiàzhào)** or **驾驶证 (jiàshǐzhèng)** are more common in everyday speech for "driver's license." * **Example 3:** * 在上海，一个车**牌照**的价格非常昂贵。 * Pinyin: Zài Shànghǎi, yī ge chē **páizhào** de jiàgé fēicháng ángguì. * English: In Shanghai, the price of a car license plate is extremely expensive. * Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural point discussed earlier. **车牌照** refers specifically to the vehicle license plate. * **Example 4:** * 这家餐厅的卫生**牌照**挂在最显眼的地方。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de wèishēng **páizhào** guà zài zuì xiǎnyǎn de dìfang. * English: This restaurant's hygiene license is hung in the most conspicuous place. * Analysis: This shows that **牌照** can refer to various types of official permits that are often physically displayed. * **Example 5:** * 没有行医**牌照**就给病人看病是违法的。 * Pinyin: Méiyǒu xíngyī **páizhào** jiù gěi bìngrén kànbìng shì wéifǎ de. * English: It is illegal to treat patients without a medical license. * Analysis: **行医牌照 (xíngyī páizhào)** means "medical license" (literally "license to practice medicine"). This demonstrates its use in professional contexts. * **Example 6:** * 我的摩托车**牌照**丢了，需要去补办一个。 * Pinyin: Wǒ de mótuōchē **páizhào** diū le, xūyào qù bǔbàn yī ge. * English: My motorcycle's license plate is lost, I need to go get a replacement. * Analysis: The verb **补办 (bǔbàn)** means "to get a replacement for" a lost document, and is commonly used with **牌照**. * **Example 7:** * 这个工厂因为污染问题，被暂时吊扣了生产**牌照**。 * Pinyin: Zhège gōngchǎng yīnwèi wūrǎn wèntí, bèi zànshí diàokòu le shēngchǎn **páizhào**. * English: This factory had its production license temporarily suspended due to pollution problems. * Analysis: **吊扣 (diàokòu)** is another useful verb meaning "to suspend" a license, which is less severe than "revoking" **(吊销 diàoxiāo)**. * **Example 8:** * 获得进口**牌照**的流程非常复杂。 * Pinyin: Huòdé jìnkǒu **páizhào** de liúchéng fēicháng fùzá. * English: The process of obtaining an import license is very complicated. * Analysis: This shows **牌照** can be used for specialized business activities like importing. * **Example 9:** * 他摇号摇了五年，终于拿到了北京的汽车**牌照**。 * Pinyin: Tā yáohào yáo le wǔ nián, zhōngyú nádào le Běijīng de qìchē **páizhào**. * English: He was in the license plate lottery for five years and finally got a Beijing car license plate. * Analysis: **摇号 (yáohào)**, "to be in a lottery," is a very modern and culturally specific term associated with getting a **牌照** in big cities. * **Example 10:** * 请出示您的**牌照**和注册文件。 * Pinyin: Qǐng chūshì nín de **páizhào** hé zhùcè wénjiàn. * English: Please show your license and registration documents. * Analysis: A very formal and official phrase you might hear from a police officer. **出示 (chūshì)** means "to show" or "to present" an official document. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **牌照 (páizhào)**, **执照 (zhízhào)**, **许可证 (xǔkězhèng)**, and the general suffix **证 (zhèng)**. * **牌照 (páizhào):** General term for a license, often emphasizing the physical plate or certificate. Strong association with vehicles (**车牌照**) and businesses (**营业牌照**). * **[[执照]] (zhízhào):** Very similar and often interchangeable with **牌照**. The character **执 (zhí)** means "to hold" or "to execute," so **执照** subtly emphasizes the license to *operate* or *practice* (e.g., **营业执照** - business license, **律师执照** - law license). * **[[许可证]] (xǔkězhèng):** More formal, translates to "permit certificate." It emphasizes the act of *permission* (**许可 xǔkě**). Used for specific, regulated permissions like a **建筑许可证 (jiànzhù xǔkězhèng)**, or building permit. * **证 (zhèng):** A general suffix for "certificate" or "ID." It's used for personal identification, not for licenses to operate. **Common Mistake:** Using **牌照** for personal ID cards. * **Incorrect:** 这是我的学生**牌照**。 (This is my student license.) * **Correct:** 这是我的学生**证** (xuéshēngzhèng). (This is my student ID card.) * **Why it's wrong:** A **牌照** grants you permission to *do* something (drive, run a business). A student ID card simply proves your *identity* as a student. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[执照]] (zhízhào) - A very close synonym, often used for business or professional licenses, emphasizing the right to operate. * [[许可证]] (xǔkězhèng) - A "permit," a more formal term that highlights the official permission granted for a specific activity. * [[驾照]] (jiàzhào) - A common colloquial term for a driver's license (short for **驾驶执照**). * [[车牌]] (chēpái) - The common, short-form word for a vehicle license plate. * [[营业执照]] (yíngyè zhízhào) - The specific and most common term for a business license. * [[身份证]] (shēnfènzhèng) - National ID card. A crucial official document, but distinct from a license. * [[申请]] (shēnqǐng) - The verb "to apply for," used when trying to get a **牌照**. * [[吊销]] (diàoxiāo) - The verb "to revoke," as in having your license taken away permanently. * [[审核]] (shěnhé) - To audit, examine, or review an application, a key step in the process of getting a **牌照**. * [[年检]] (niánjiǎn) - Annual inspection; a process many vehicles and businesses must go through to keep their **牌照** valid.