píngzhèng: 凭证 - Voucher, Credential, Proof, Certificate

• Keywords: pingzheng, 凭证, Chinese for voucher, proof in Chinese, credential, certificate, evidence in Chinese, fapiao, shouju, pingzheng vs zhengju, Chinese accounting terms
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 凭证 (píngzhèng), a crucial Chinese term for any document or item that serves as proof, a voucher, or a credential. This page explores its use in finance, business, and daily life, breaking down its characters, cultural importance, and practical application. Learn the key differences between 凭证 and similar words like 证据 (zhèngjù) and 证明 (zhèngmíng) to use it accurately in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): píng zhèng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: A voucher, certificate, or any document serving as proof or evidence for a transaction or right.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 凭证 (píngzhèng) as the official “paper trail” or tangible proof of something. It's the physical or digital item you hold onto to prove you paid, you own something, or you have the right to enter or receive a service. It's more formal than a simple note; it's a document you rely on.

• 凭 (píng): This character's core meaning is “to lean on,” “to rely on,” or “based on.” It signifies using something as a foundation or support for a claim.
• 证 (zhèng): This character means “proof,” “evidence,” or “certificate.” The left part, 讠(yán), is the “speech” radical, and the right part, 正 (zhèng), means “proper” or “correct.” So, 证 is “proper speech” or a formal statement that proves something is true.

When combined, 凭证 (píngzhèng) literally translates to “that which is relied upon as proof.” This perfectly captures its function as a dependable, official document or item used for verification.

The importance of 凭证 (píngzhèng) in China is tied to the society's emphasis on formal documentation and verification in official and commercial matters. While Western cultures also use receipts and vouchers, the concept of a `凭证` often carries a heavier weight, acting as the non-negotiable key to completing a process. For instance, in the West, a company's accounting department might accept a credit card statement for reimbursement. In China, they will almost certainly demand the official 发票 (fāpiào), a specific type of government-monitored `凭证`. This isn't just a receipt; it's a tax document and the only acceptable proof of the expense. This reliance on the correct `凭证` reflects a system where trust is often codified in official papers rather than just a handshake or a simple promise. For a learner, understanding this means knowing to always ask for, and carefully keep, any relevant `凭证`—be it a deposit slip, a warranty card, or an official invoice.

凭证 (píngzhèng) is a common and important term, especially in formal contexts.

• Finance and Accounting: This is its most frequent and critical use. An 会计凭证 (kuàijì píngzhèng), or accounting voucher, is the foundational document for all bookkeeping and financial audits. Without the correct `凭证`, a transaction essentially didn't happen in the eyes of the accountant or tax bureau.
• Business and Legal: In contracts and disputes, a `凭证` serves as crucial evidence. This could be a signed delivery confirmation, a bank transfer record, or a certificate of ownership.
• Everyday Transactions: For consumers, a `凭证` can be a ticket for a movie, a QR code for a flight, a coupon for a discount, or a receipt needed for a warranty claim. While you might call a simple grocery receipt a “小票 (xiǎopiào)”, a `凭证` is used when the proof is more significant.
• Digital Age: The concept has fully transitioned into the digital world. A QR code for entry, a confirmation email with a booking number, or a digital token are all modern forms of `凭证`.

• Example 1:
• 请您保留好这张收据，这是您退换商品的唯一凭证。
• Pinyin: Qǐng nín bǎoliú hǎo zhè zhāng shōujù, zhè shì nín tuìhuàn shāngpǐn de wéiyī píngzhèng.
• English: Please keep this receipt well; it is the only proof for you to return or exchange the product.
• Analysis: This is a very common sentence in retail. The receipt (收据) is explicitly called a `凭证`, highlighting its role as the necessary proof for a future action.
• Example 2:
• 报销时，所有费用都必须附上相应的会计凭证。
• Pinyin: Bàoxiāo shí, suǒyǒu fèiyòng dōu bìxū fùshàng xiāngyìng de kuàijì píngzhèng.
• English: When submitting for reimbursement, all expenses must be accompanied by the corresponding accounting vouchers.
• Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the term's formal use in a business/accounting context. The “accounting voucher” is a specific and non-negotiable type of `凭证`.
• Example 3:
• 这张获奖证书是她努力学习的凭证。
• Pinyin: Zhè zhāng huòjiǎng zhèngshū shì tā nǔlì xuéxí de píngzhèng.
• English: This award certificate is proof of her hard work and study.
• Analysis: Here, `凭证` is used in a slightly more abstract, yet still tangible, way. The certificate (`证书`) acts as the physical evidence of an intangible quality (hard work).
• Example 4:
• 您的登机牌和护照是您通过安检的重要凭证。
• Pinyin: Nín de dēngjīpái hé hùzhào shì nín tōngguò ānjiǎn de zhòngyào píngzhèng.
• English: Your boarding pass and passport are the important credentials for you to pass through the security check.
• Analysis: This shows how `凭证` can refer to a combination of documents required to grant a right or access.
• Example 5:
• 付完定金后，他们给了我一张付款凭证。
• Pinyin: Fù wán dìngjīn hòu, tāmen gěi le wǒ yī zhāng fùkuǎn píngzhèng.
• English: After I paid the deposit, they gave me a payment voucher/proof.
• Analysis: A classic transactional use. The `凭证` is the document that proves a payment was made.
• Example 6:
• 电子票也是一种有效的入场凭证。
• Pinyin: Diànzǐ piào yěshì yī zhǒng yǒuxiào de rùchǎng píngzhèng.
• English: An e-ticket is also a valid credential for entry.
• Analysis: This example explicitly brings the concept into the modern digital era.
• Example 7:
• 如果没有书面凭证，口头协议很难在法庭上得到认可。
• Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu shūmiàn píngzhèng, kǒutóu xiéyì hěn nán zài fǎtíng shàng dédào rènkě.
• English: Without written proof, verbal agreements are hard to have recognized in court.
• Analysis: This highlights the legal weight of a `凭证` and the cultural preference for written, tangible evidence over verbal promises.
• Example 8:
• 这张盖了章的单据可以作为你已经缴费的凭证。
• Pinyin: Zhè zhāng gàile zhāng de dānjù kěyǐ zuòwéi nǐ yǐjīng jiǎofèi de píngzhèng.
• English: This stamped document can serve as proof that you have already paid the fee.
• Analysis: The mention of a stamp (盖了章) reinforces the official nature often associated with a `凭证` in China.
• Example 9:
• 公司的财务正在整理上个月的记账凭证。
• Pinyin: Gōngsī de cáiwù zhèngzài zhěnglǐ shàng gè yuè de jìzhàng píngzhèng.
• English: The company's finance department is organizing last month's bookkeeping vouchers.
• Analysis: Another example from the world of accounting, showing its day-to-day use in a professional setting. `记账凭证` (jìzhàng píngzhèng) is a synonym for `会计凭证`.
• Example 10:
• 仅凭一张照片，不能作为定罪的证据。
• Pinyin: Jǐn píng yī zhāng zhàopiàn, bù néng zuòwéi dìngzuì de zhèngjù.
• English: Relying on just one photo, it cannot be used as evidence for a conviction.
• Analysis: This sentence cleverly deconstructs the word to show the relationship between its characters and another key term, `证据 (zhèngjù)`. It shows how `凭` means “to rely on” and `证` is related to “evidence.”

The most common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 凭证 (píngzhèng) from 证据 (zhèngjù) and 证明 (zhèngmíng).

• 凭证 (píngzhèng) vs. 证据 (zhèngjù) - Voucher vs. Evidence:
  • 凭证 (píngzhèng) is typically a document or item that *proves a transaction* or *grants a right*. It's a voucher, a ticket, a receipt, a certificate. It's the “proof of purchase.”
  • 证据 (zhèngjù) is a much broader term for “evidence,” especially in a legal or investigative context. It can include witness testimony, fingerprints, a motive, or a murder weapon.
  • Rule of Thumb: A receipt (`凭证`) can be used as evidence (`证据`) in court, but fingerprints (`证据`) can never be a `凭证`.
• 凭证 (píngzhèng) vs. 证明 (zhèngmíng) - The Thing vs. The Act/Concept:
  • 凭证 (píngzhèng) is always a noun referring to the concrete object (the piece of paper, the QR code).
  • 证明 (zhèngmíng) can be a verb (“to prove”) or a noun (“proof”). As a noun, it's more abstract, like “Do you have any proof?” (你有什么证明吗?). A `凭证` is a *type* of `证明`.
  • Incorrect: 我需要一个凭证我在这里。(I need a `píngzhèng` that I was here.) → This is awkward.
  • Correct: 我需要一个证明我在这里。(I need proof I was here.) → This asks for the abstract concept of proof.
  • Correct: 这张门票就是我在这里的凭证。(This ticket is the proof/voucher that I was here.) → This identifies the specific item.

• 证据 (zhèngjù) - Evidence. Broader and often used in legal or investigative contexts.
• 证明 (zhèngmíng) - (v.) To prove; (n.) Proof (often more abstract than `凭证`).
• 发票 (fāpiào) - A specific, official, government-regulated invoice required for business expenses and tax purposes. A very important type of `凭证`.
• 收据 (shōujù) - A receipt. A less formal type of `凭证` than a `fāpiào`, but more formal than a simple handwritten note.
• 证书 (zhèngshū) - Certificate or diploma (e.g., graduation certificate, marriage certificate). A formal type of `凭证` that certifies a status or achievement.
• 单据 (dānjù) - A general term for forms, bills, or receipts. `凭证` is a function that a `单据` can serve.
• 票 (piào) - Ticket, slip. A very common and general term for items that function as a `凭证` for entry or travel (e.g., 门票 ménpiào, a door ticket; 车票 chēpiào, a bus/train ticket).
• 凭 (píng) - (v.) To rely on, to depend on, based on. The verb from which `凭证` derives its meaning.