páizhào: 牌照 - License, Permit, License Plate

• 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).

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

• 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.