驾照
jiàzhào
The English phrase "driving license" is translated into Chinese as 驾照 (jiàzhào).
驾照 refers to an official document that proves a person is allowed to drive a vehicle. It is an abbreviation of the more formal term 驾驶执照.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 驾照 is a contraction of 驾驶执照 (jiàshǐ zhízhào). The character 驾 means to drive, 驶 means to steer and 照 is short for 执照 (zhízhào), which means license.
Which one should you use?
While 驾照 is the standard abbreviation, 驾驶执照 is the full, formal version. Additionally, 驾证 (jiàzhèng) is a common alternative form that can be used interchangeably with 驾照 in many contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
驾照 is the common, everyday way to say driving license and is considered informal. In contrast, 驾驶执照 is the full, formal term used in official legal documents.
How do you pronounce it?
jiàzhào
Did you know?
- While 驾照 means 'driving license', the character 驾 was historically used for driving horse-drawn carriages, showing the linguistic shift from animal power to engines.
- In China, the 驾照 is often linked to a social credit system where traffic violations can lead to deductions of points, potentially resulting in a temporary suspension of the license.
- In China, getting a 驾照 is often a multi-stage ordeal involving '科目' (kēmù), which are specific subjects or tests that must be passed sequentially before the license is granted.
Examples in context
- 她没到拿驾照的年龄。She isn't old enough to get a driving license.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone has not yet reached the required age to obtain a 驾照.Tatoeba #1944869 by bigfatpanda, translation #1569849 by CK
- 我需要办理驾驶执照。I need to apply for a driving license.
- 你的驾驶执照还有效吗？Is your driving license still valid?
- 请出示您的驾驶执照。Please present your driving license.
- 我拿到驾照了！I got my driving license!
- 他的驾照过期了。His driving license has expired.
- 你要带上驾照。You should bring your driving license.
- 我刚拿到驾照。Wǒ gāng ná dào jiàzhào.I just got my driving license.
- 请出示您的驾照。Qǐng chūshì nín de jiàzhào.Please show your driving license.
Example conversation
俊杰 is asking 雨婷 about her driving status.
- 雨婷 Yuting你现在有驾照吗？Nǐ xiànzài yǒu jiàzhào ma?Do you have a driving license now?
- 俊杰 Junjie有了，我上个月刚考下来。Yǒu le, wǒ shàng gè yuè gāng kǎo xià lái.I have, I just passed the exam last month.
- 雨婷 Yuting太棒了，那你可以开车带我了。Tài bàng le, nà nǐ kěyǐ kāichē dài wǒ le.That's great, then you can drive me around.
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，出发吧！Méi wèntí, chūfā ba!No problem, let's go!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
