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| 牌照 [2025/08/12 13:56] – created xiaoer | 牌照 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== 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. | |