shēnqǐngbiǎo: 申请表 - Application Form

• Keywords: shenqingbiao, 申请表, application form in Chinese, Chinese application form, how to say application form in Chinese, fill out a form in Chinese, job application, visa application, university application China.
• Summary: “申请表 (shēnqǐngbiǎo)” is the essential Chinese word for “application form.” This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, character breakdown, and practical usage. Learn how to use it correctly when applying for a job, a visa, or university in China, with 10 practical example sentences, cultural notes, and a guide to avoid common mistakes for learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shēnqǐngbiǎo
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: An application form; a document used to make a formal request.
• In a Nutshell: A `申请表` is any physical or digital document you need to fill out to apply for something. From getting a new job to joining a gym or applying for a visa, this is the paperwork that starts the process. It's a highly practical and common word in daily life and bureaucracy in China.

• 申 (shēn): To apply, state, or express. Pictographically, it's sometimes said to represent a lightning bolt stretching from the clouds to the ground, implying “extending” or “stretching out” a request.
• 请 (qǐng): To request, to ask, or “please.” This character combines the “speech” radical (言) with “azure” (青), which provides the sound. It clearly indicates a polite act of asking.
• 表 (biǎo): A form, table, or chart. It means something shown on the “surface” or “outside.” It's the physical document where you express your information.

Putting them together, `申请 (shēnqǐng)` means “to apply” or “to make a request,” and `表 (biǎo)` means “form.” So, `申请表` literally and logically translates to “application form.”

While the concept of an “application form” is universal, the `申请表` in China often reflects a cultural emphasis on process, documentation, and formality. Bureaucracy is a significant part of life, and filling out forms correctly is a crucial skill. Compared to some Western cultures where a verbal agreement or a simple email might suffice for minor requests, in China, a `申请表` is often required to create a formal, traceable record. This applies to everything from joining a company to getting a library card. The forms themselves can sometimes be more detailed than their Western counterparts, asking for information like family background or political affiliation (in specific government or party-related contexts), which can be surprising to foreigners. This isn't about deep philosophy but about the practical reality of a society that values structure, clear records, and standardized procedures for managing a large population. Precision is key; a small mistake on a `申请表` can lead to significant delays.

`申请表` is a neutral and somewhat formal term used in any situation that requires a formal application. You will encounter it constantly in administrative, educational, and professional settings.

• Job Hunting: You will almost always fill out a `工作申请表 (gōngzuò shēnqǐngbiǎo)` - a job application form, even if you've already submitted a résumé.
• Visas and Residency: The `签证申请表 (qiānzhèng shēnqǐngbiǎo)` is the first and most critical document for anyone wanting to travel to or live in China.
• Education: Students fill out an `入学申请表 (rùxué shēnqǐngbiǎo)` for admission to schools and universities.
• Memberships & Services: Applying for a gym membership, a credit card, or even a club might require you to `填写申请表 (tiánxiě shēnqǐngbiǎo)` - fill out an application form.

• Example 1:
  • 请填写这张申请表。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng tiánxiě zhè zhāng shēnqǐngbiǎo.
  • English: Please fill out this application form.
  • Analysis: This is the most common and direct phrase you'll hear from staff at any service counter. `填写 (tiánxiě)` is the specific verb for “to fill out” a form.
• Example 2:
  • 我的签证申请表有很多页。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de qiānzhèng shēnqǐngbiǎo yǒu hěn duō yè.
  • English: My visa application form has many pages.
  • Analysis: A simple descriptive sentence. It highlights how `申请表` can be modified by other nouns like `签证 (qiānzhèng)` to specify the type of application.
• Example 3:
  • 你可以从网上下载申请表吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ cóng wǎngshàng xiàzài shēnqǐngbiǎo ma?
  • English: Can you download the application form from the internet?
  • Analysis: This shows the modern context of digital forms. `下载 (xiàzài)` means “to download.”
• Example 4:
  • 我把工作申请表和简历一起交了上去。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ gōngzuò shēnqǐngbiǎo hé jiǎnlì yīqǐ jiāo le shàngqù.
  • English: I submitted the job application form and my résumé together.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its use in a professional context. The `把 (bǎ)` structure is used to emphasize the action's effect on the object (`申请表`).
• Example 5:
  • 对不起，我在申请表上写错了一个字。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ zài shēnqǐngbiǎo shàng xiě cuò le yí ge zì.
  • English: Sorry, I wrote a character incorrectly on the application form.
  • Analysis: A very practical sentence for any learner filling out a form. It shows the preposition `在…上 (zài…shàng)` to mean “on” the form.
• Example 6:
  • 这是会员申请表，不是信用卡申请表。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì huìyuán shēnqǐngbiǎo, búshì xìnyòngkǎ shēnqǐngbiǎo.
  • English: This is the membership application form, not the credit card application form.
  • Analysis: This example contrasts two different types of application forms, showing the word's versatility.
• Example 7:
  • 申请表需要贴一张近照。
  • Pinyin: Shēnqǐngbiǎo xūyào tiē yī zhāng jìnzhào.
  • English: The application form requires a recent photo to be attached.
  • Analysis: `贴 (tiē)` means “to stick” or “to paste,” the verb used for attaching a physical photo. This is a common requirement on Chinese forms.
• Example 8:
  • 填写申请表的时候，请用黑色水笔。
  • Pinyin: Tiánxiě shēnqǐngbiǎo de shíhou, qǐng yòng hēisè shuǐbǐ.
  • English: When filling out the application form, please use a black ink pen.
  • Analysis: This provides a typical instruction you might receive. `用 (yòng)` means “to use.”
• Example 9:
  • 如果没有申请表，你就不能参加这次面试。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu shēnqǐngbiǎo, nǐ jiù bùnéng cānjiā zhè cì miànshì.
  • English: If you don't have the application form, you can't participate in this interview.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses a conditional structure (`如果…就…`) to show the importance of the form.
• Example 10:
  • 请问，我在哪里可以拿到申请表？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, wǒ zài nǎlǐ kěyǐ nádào shēnqǐngbiǎo?
  • English: Excuse me, where can I get an application form?
  • Analysis: A fundamental question for anyone navigating a new process. `拿到 (nádào)` means to “get” or “obtain.”

• `申请表` vs. `表格 (biǎogé)`:
  • `表格 (biǎogé)` is the general word for any kind of form, table, or chart. A spreadsheet is a `表格`. A class schedule is a `表格`.
  • `申请表 (shēnqǐngbiǎo)` is a *specific type* of `表格` used for *applying*.
  • Rule: All `申请表` are `表格`, but not all `表格` are `申请表`.
  • Incorrect: 我需要填写一个课程申请表。 (Wǒ xūyào tiánxiě yí ge kèchéng shēnqǐngbiǎo.) - “I need to fill out a course *application form*.” (This is correct if you're applying for a course.)
  • Incorrect: 我做了一个工作时间申请表。 (Wǒ zuòle yí ge gōngzuò shíjiān shēnqǐngbiǎo.) - “I made a work schedule *application form*.” This is wrong. You should say: 我做了一个工作时间表格 (Wǒ zuòle yí ge gōngzuò shíjiān biǎogé.) - “I made a work schedule *table/form*.”
• `申请表` (Noun) vs. `申请` (Verb):
  • `申请 (shēnqǐng)` is the verb “to apply.” `申请表` is the noun “application form.”
  • Incorrect: 我要填写申请。 (Wǒ yào tiánxiě shēnqǐng.) - “I need to fill out the apply.” This is grammatically wrong.
  • Correct: 我要申请一个签证。 (Wǒ yào shēnqǐng yí ge qiānzhèng.) - “I want to apply for a visa.”
  • Correct: 我要填写签证申请表。 (Wǒ yào tiánxiě qiānzhèng shēnqǐngbiǎo.) - “I need to fill out the visa application form.”

• 申请 (shēnqǐng) - The verb “to apply.” This is the action you perform when you submit your `申请表`.
• 表格 (biǎogé) - The general term for a form, table, or chart. `申请表` is a specific type of `表格`.
• 填写 (tiánxiě) - The specific verb meaning “to fill in” or “to fill out” a form. It's the most common verb used with `申请表`.
• 报名表 (bàomíngbiǎo) - A registration or sign-up form. Very similar, but used more for events, competitions, or classes rather than for jobs or visas. `报名 (bàomíng)` means “to sign up.”
• 简历 (jiǎnlì) - Résumé or CV. This is often submitted along *with* a job `申请表`.
• 签证 (qiānzhèng) - Visa. You must fill out a `签证申请表` to get one.
• 材料 (cáiliào) - Materials or documents. The `申请表` is usually just one of the required `材料` for any application.
• 护照 (hùzhào) - Passport. Your passport number is almost always required on a `申请表` for travel, banking, or visas.
• 提交 (tíjiāo) - To submit (formally). This is the verb you use for handing in your completed `申请表`.
• 签名 (qiānmíng) - To sign; signature. The last step of filling out any `申请表`.