牌照

• Pinyin: pái zhào
• Hanzi breakdown: 牌 = 片 + 卑 (flat plate or official sign); 照 = 日 + 刀 + 灬 (illuminate, verify officially)

Meaning

Licence plate; official permit or licence issued by authorities for operating a vehicle or business.

Refers to vehicle registration plates and official licences for businesses, taxis, and commercial operations. Essential in legal and administrative contexts. Losing or lacking a 牌照 carries serious legal consequences.

Examples

1. 他的车牌照因年检过期被交警暂扣。 His license plate was temporarily confiscated by traffic police because his annual vehicle inspection had expired.
2. 该公司持有合法的营业牌照。 The company holds a valid business license.
3. 交警仔细核对了司机的驾照和车辆牌照。 The traffic officer carefully checked the driver’s license and the vehicle registration.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, transportation, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 开出租车必须取得相关营运牌照方可上路。(Operating a taxi requires obtaining the relevant operating licence before going on the road.)
• 执法人员检查了这家餐厅的卫生许可证和营业牌照。(Enforcement officers checked the restaurant's hygiene certificate and business licence.)

Don't Say

• 我的牌照很好看 — use 号牌 colloquially for the plate itself; 牌照 is preferred in official and administrative contexts

Origin & History

牌 (plate, sign) + 照 (certificate, permit)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal