驾照

• Pinyin: jià zhào
• Hanzi breakdown: 驾 = 加 (add) + 马 (horse), meaning to drive; 照 = 日 (sun) + 召 (summon), meaning license/document

Meaning

Driver's license. Official permit to drive a vehicle.

Colloquial short form of 驾驶执照. Required for legally operating motor vehicles in China. The process of getting a license (考驾照) is a common topic. Different types exist for cars, motorcycles, trucks, etc.

Examples

1. 在中国考驾照需要通过科目一到科目四的考试。 Getting a driver's license in China requires passing tests from Subject 1 to Subject 4.
2. 他的驾照因为违规被吊销了半年。 His driver's license was revoked for half a year due to violations.
3. 拿到驾照后，她迫不及待地买了一辆车。 After getting her driver's license, she couldn't wait to buy a car.

Usage Guide

Context: driving, legal, daily life

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你有驾照吗？(Do you have a driver's license?)
• 我正在考驾照。(I'm working on getting my driver's license.)

Don't Say

• 给我看你的驾照开车 (驾照 is a license document, not a verb — rephrase to avoid confusion)

Origin & History

Compound of 驾 (to drive) + 照 (document, license), short for 驾驶执照.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal