入场券

• Pinyin: rù chǎng quàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 入 = enter (pictograph); 场 = earth + brightness (open arena); 券 = 刀 (knife) + 龹 (coil) — originally a split tally or certificate

Meaning

Admission ticket; entry ticket. A ticket granting the holder the right to enter a venue, event, or competition.

Used both literally for event tickets and metaphorically for credentials or qualifications that grant access to opportunities. 学历是通往职场的入场券 (a degree is the admission ticket to the workplace) is a common metaphorical usage. Related to 门票 (entrance ticket), though 入场券 can carry a more formal or competitive connotation.

Examples

1. 这场国际设计大赛的决赛入场券数量极为有限，全国仅有三十名选手获得了宝贵的参赛资格。 Tickets to the finals of this international design competition were extremely limited; only thirty contestants nationwide earned the valuable right to compete.
2. 许多家长认为，名牌大学的录取通知书是孩子进入精英职场的第一张入场券。 Many parents believe an acceptance letter from a top university is their child’s first ticket into an elite career.
3. 组委会表示，此次颁奖典礼的入场券将通过公开抽签的方式向社会公众发放。 The organizing committee said tickets for this awards ceremony will be distributed to the public through an open lottery.

Usage Guide

Context: events, competitions, career, metaphor

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 只有通过预选赛的选手才能获得进入总决赛的入场券，竞争之激烈可想而知。(Only contestants who pass the qualifying rounds can obtain entry tickets to the grand final — the intensity of competition speaks for itself.)
• 在当今就业市场上，相关领域的专业证书已逐渐成为求职者进入高薪岗位的重要入场券。(In today's job market, relevant professional certifications have gradually become important admission tickets for job seekers entering high-salary positions.)

Don't Say

• 给我一张入场券去图书馆 — 入场券 is used for ticketed or credentialed events and competitions; libraries use 借书证 (library card) and do not require entry tickets

Origin & History

入场 (admission/entry) + 券 (ticket/certificate — 刀 knife + 龹 coil, originally a split tally) — a certificate granting admission

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal