身份证
shēn fèn zhèng
The Chinese phrase for 'id' is 身份证 (shēn fèn zhèng).
身份证 specifically refers to a Chinese national identification card or ID. While 身份 can refer to 'ID' or 'identity' in certain formal contexts, and 证件 is used broadly for any official documents or identification papers, 身份证 is the specific term for the physical card.
Meaning: identification or identity documentation (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
身份证 is a compound of 身份, meaning 'identity' and 证, meaning 'certificate' or 'document'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the term 身分證 is used to refer to 'ID' instead of 身份证.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because 证 is a noun, you can add a measure word like 张 to specify a single ID card, such as in 一张身份证 (one ID card).
How do you pronounce it?
shēn fèn zhèng
Did you know?
- The Chinese 身份证 is one of the few official documents that uses a 18-digit number, where the final digit is a 'check digit' that can sometimes be the letter 'X'.
- While 身份证 is the standard for a person's identity card, you might see the term 身份 used alone in a completely different sense to mean 'social status' or 'position'.
- In mainland China, you will often hear the term 身份证 used in the context of the 'real-name registration' system, which is required for almost all digital services, from social media to high-speed rail tickets.
Examples in context
- 我的身份证过期了，我该怎么办？My ID card has expired, what should I do?This sentence is useful for asking about an expired 身份证.Tatoeba #5611658 by verdastelo9604, translation #4088250 by bandeirante
- 你们把自行车留下，明天带着身份证和20块钱到交通局领自行车。Leave the bike here, and tomorrow bring your ID and 20 dollars to the Bureau of Communications to get the bike back.This sentence is useful for a situation involving bringing your 身份证 to an office.Tatoeba #737174 by GlossaMatik, translation #737175 by eastasiastudent
- 身份证你带来吗？Have you brought your ID card with you?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has brought their 身份证.Tatoeba #420564 by sysko, translation #474600 by minshirui
- 我需要填写我的身份证号码。(Wǒ xūyào tiánxiě wǒ de shēnfènzhèng hàomǎ.)I need to fill in my ID number.
- 请出示您的证件。(Qǐng chūshì nín de zhèngjiàn.)Please present your ID.
- 他们要验证我的身份。(Tāmen yào yànzhèng wǒ de shēnfèn.)They want to verify my ID.
- 我忘了带我的证了。(Wǒ wàngle dài wǒ de zhèng le.)I forgot to bring my ID.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jiayi and Wei are checking into a hotel.
- 佳怡 Jiayi请给我出示您的身份证。Qǐng gěi wǒ chūshì nín de shēnfènzhèng.Please show me your ID.
- 伟 Wei好的，我的身份证在这里。Hǎo de, wǒ de shēnfènzhèng zài zhèlǐ.Okay, here is my ID.
- 佳怡 Jiayi谢谢，伟先生，请在这里签名。Xièxiè, Wěi xiānshēng, qǐng zài zhèlǐ qiānmíng.Thank you, Mr. Wei, please sign here.
- 伟 Wei没问题，我现在就签。Méi wèntí, wǒ xiànzài jiù qiān.No problem, I will sign it now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
