申领

• Pinyin: shēn lǐng
• Hanzi breakdown: 申 = 田 + 丨 (to state formally); 领 = 令 + 页 (to receive, to lead)

Meaning

To apply to receive; to claim; to formally apply for the issuance of a document, permit, or benefit.

Used when an individual formally applies to an authority for the issuance of something they are entitled to, such as a licence, certificate, subsidy, or card. More specific than 申请 in that 申领 emphasises receiving something issued by an authority.

Examples

1. 市民可前往相关部门申领新版居民身份证。 Residents can go to the relevant office to apply for the new version of the resident ID card.
2. 符合条件的低收入家庭可以申领住房补贴。 Eligible low-income households can apply for a housing subsidy.
3. 他向劳动局申领了失业救济金，暂度难关。 He applied for unemployment benefits through the labor bureau to get through a difficult time.

Usage Guide

Context: government, social welfare, administration

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 新生儿的父母需在规定时间内为孩子申领出生证明。(Parents of newborns must apply for the birth certificate within the stipulated time.)
• 退伍军人可凭相关证明材料申领优待证。(Veterans may apply for a preferential treatment card with the relevant supporting documents.)

Don't Say

• 申领 and 申请 interchangeably — 申领 specifically means applying to receive something issued by an authority; 申请 is more general

Origin & History

申 (to state, to apply formally) + 领 (to receive, to lead)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal