Meaning
执照 refers to an official document that grants legal permission to engage in a specific activity, such as driving, running a business, or practicing a profession. It is issued by government authorities and serves as proof that the holder has met required standards or qualifications.
Usage
This is a formal, official term used in legal and administrative contexts. Native speakers commonly use it with specific modifiers like 驾驶执照 (driver's license) or 营业执照 (business license). It's interchangeable with 许可证 in many contexts, though 执照 is slightly more common in everyday speech.
Examples
- 01你有驾驶执照吗？?Do you have a driver's license?
- 02开公司需要先办营业执照。.To start a company, you need to first obtain a business license.
Characters
Measure words
- 张一张驾驶执照
- 本一本营业执照
Common collocations
- 驾驶执照driver's license
- 营业执照business license
- 申请执照to apply for a license
- 吊销执照to revoke a license
Origin
执 originally meant to grasp or hold, while 照 means to shine or illuminate. Together, they came to mean a document one holds that illuminates or certifies one's authority or qualification to do something.