jiàzhào: 驾照 - Driver's License

• Keywords: jiazhao, 驾照, driver's license in China, Chinese driving license, how to say driver's license in Chinese, get a driver's license China, 考驾照, Chinese ID, driving in China, vehicle permit
• Summary: The Chinese word 驾照 (jiàzhào) is the direct and standard term for a “driver's license.” It refers to the official, government-issued document that permits an individual to legally operate a motor vehicle. Beyond its practical function, obtaining a 驾照 is a significant milestone in modern China, symbolizing mobility, independence, and social status. This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage, including how to talk about getting, renewing, and using a driver's license in everyday conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiàzhào
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A driver's license.
• In a Nutshell: `驾照` is the physical card that proves you are qualified to drive. It's a straightforward, practical term used in all contexts, from official documents to casual chats with friends. Think of it as the direct equivalent of “driver's license” or “driving permit” in English, with no hidden abstract meaning.

• 驾 (jià): This character means “to drive,” “to pilot,” or “to harness.” The radical is a horse (马 mǎ), harking back to the original mode of transportation: the horse-drawn carriage. The top part, 加 (jiā), means “to add” and primarily serves as the phonetic component, but one can imagine it as “adding” control to the horse/vehicle.
• 照 (zhào): This character can mean “to shine,” “to reflect,” or, in this context, “a license” or “permit.” The bottom radical (灬) is a variant of fire (火 huǒ), suggesting light or illumination. In a bureaucratic sense, it “illuminates” or certifies a person's qualifications, hence its use in words for official permits.

Combining these two characters, `驾` (to drive) + `照` (a license), gives you the very literal and logical term “drive-license.”

In modern China, getting a `驾照` has become a significant rite of passage, much like in Western countries, but with its own unique cultural weight. While in the US, getting a license at 16 is a classic symbol of teenage freedom, in China, it's often pursued a bit later, typically during university or after starting a career. It's less about teenage rebellion and more about practical necessity and social mobility. With the rapid growth of China's middle class and the explosion of car ownership, a `驾照` is seen as an essential life skill and a status symbol. It signifies that you are an independent, capable adult. The process of obtaining a license, known as `考驾照` (kǎo jiàzhào), is famously rigorous, bureaucratic, and stressful. It involves multiple written and practical exams that are much stricter than many of their Western counterparts. This shared struggle makes “complaining about the driving test” a common bonding topic among young people. A `驾照` is not just a permit; it's a hard-won achievement.

`驾照` is a high-frequency word used in many everyday situations.

• Getting a License: The most common phrase you'll hear is `考驾照 (kǎo jiàzhào)`, which means “to take the test for a driver's license.”
• Police Checks: If you are pulled over, the traffic police (`交警 jiāojǐng`) will ask for your `驾照` and the vehicle's registration, `行驶证 (xíngshǐzhèng)`.
• Identification: While the national ID card (`身份证 shēnfènzhèng`) is the primary form of identification, a `驾照` is often accepted as a secondary form of photo ID, for example, when checking into a hotel or boarding a train.
• Car Rentals: You will always need to present a valid `驾照` to rent a car in China. Foreigners often need to exchange their home country's license for a Chinese `驾照` to do this legally.

The term is neutral in connotation and used in both formal and informal settings.

• Example 1:
  • 我打算明年去考驾照。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ dǎsuàn míngnián qù kǎo jiàzhào.
  • English: I plan to go take the driver's license test next year.
  • Analysis: This is a very common way to express the intention of getting a license. Note the use of `考 (kǎo)`, which means “to test.”
• Example 2:
  • 恭喜你！你终于拿到驾照了！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ! Nǐ zhōngyú nádào jiàzhào le!
  • English: Congratulations! You finally got your driver's license!
  • Analysis: `拿到 (nádào)` means “to get” or “to obtain.” The particle `了 (le)` indicates the completion of the action.
• Example 3:
  • 警察让我出示我的驾照和行驶证。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá ràng wǒ chūshì wǒ de jiàzhào hé xíngshǐzhèng.
  • English: The police officer told me to show my driver's license and vehicle registration.
  • Analysis: `出示 (chūshì)` is a formal verb for “to show” or “to present” documents. This sentence clearly distinguishes between the driver's permit (`驾照`) and the car's permit (`行驶证`).
• Example 4:
  • 我的驾照快到期了，我得去换一个新的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de jiàzhào kuài dàoqī le, wǒ děi qù huàn yī gè xīn de.
  • English: My driver's license is about to expire, I have to go get it renewed.
  • Analysis: `到期 (dàoqī)` means “to expire.” `换 (huàn)` means “to exchange” or “to renew” in this context.
• Example 5:
  • 在中国，外国驾照不可以直接使用，必须换成中国驾照。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, wàiguó jiàzhào bù kěyǐ zhíjiē shǐyòng, bìxū huànchéng Zhōngguó jiàzhào.
  • English: In China, a foreign driver's license cannot be used directly; it must be exchanged for a Chinese driver's license.
  • Analysis: This is a crucial piece of practical information for foreigners in China. `换成 (huànchéng)` means “to exchange into.”
• Example 6:
  • 他虽然有驾照，但是个新手，开车很紧张。
  • Pinyin: Tā suīrán yǒu jiàzhào, dànshì ge xīnshǒu, kāichē hěn jǐnzhāng.
  • English: Although he has a driver's license, he's a novice and gets very nervous when driving.
  • Analysis: This shows that having a `驾照` doesn't automatically mean you're a good or experienced driver. `新手 (xīnshǒu)` means “new hand” or “novice.”
• Example 7:
  • 你看，这张照片是我驾照上的，拍得真难看。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, zhè zhāng zhàopiàn shì wǒ jiàzhào shàng de, pāi de zhēn nánkàn.
  • English: Look, this photo is the one on my driver's license, it was taken so badly.
  • Analysis: A universally relatable complaint. `…上的 (…shàng de)` means “on top of…” or simply “on.”
• Example 8:
  • 租车公司要求驾照的驾龄至少要有一年。
  • Pinyin: Zūchē gōngsī yāoqiú jiàzhào de jiàlíng zhìshǎo yào yǒu yī nián.
  • English: The car rental company requires that the driver's license has at least one year of driving experience.
  • Analysis: `驾龄 (jiàlíng)` literally means “driving age” and refers to the length of time one has held a license. It's a key concept for things like insurance and car rentals.
• Example 9:
  • 如果你没有驾照就开车，那就是无证驾驶，是违法的。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ méiyǒu jiàzhào jiù kāichē, nà jiùshì wúzhèng jiàshǐ, shì wéifǎ de.
  • English: If you drive without a driver's license, that is unlicensed driving, which is illegal.
  • Analysis: `无证驾驶 (wúzhèng jiàshǐ)` is the formal legal term for “driving without a license.” `无 (wú)` means “without,” and `证 (zhèng)` is short for a certificate/license like `驾照`.
• Example 10:
  • 忘带驾照了怎么办？现在很多城市可以用电子驾照。
  • Pinyin: Wàng dài jiàzhào le zěnme bàn? Xiànzài hěnduō chéngshì kěyǐ yòng diànzǐ jiàzhào.
  • English: What should I do if I forgot to bring my driver's license? Nowadays, many cities allow you to use an electronic driver's license.
  • Analysis: This reflects modern technological changes. `电子 (diànzǐ)` means “electronic,” referring to digital versions stored on a smartphone app like Alipay or WeChat.

• `驾照` vs. `行驶证` (xíngshǐzhèng): This is the most common mistake for learners.
  • `驾照 (jiàzhào)`: Belongs to the person. It proves you are licensed to drive.
  • `行驶证 (xíngshǐzhèng)`: Belongs to the vehicle. It's the car's registration document.
  • Incorrect: “The police asked for my car's 驾照.” (Wrong - the car has a `行驶证`).
  • Correct: “The police asked for my 驾照 and my car's 行驶证.”
• Getting a license is `考 (kǎo)`, not `做 (zuò)`:
  • The standard phrase is `考驾照 (kǎo jiàzhào)`, “to test for a driver's license.”
  • Saying `我去做一个驾照 (Wǒ qù zuò yī gè jiàzhào)` literally means “I'm going to make a driver's license,” which sounds like you are forging one. Always use `考 (kǎo)` for the process of legally obtaining it.

• 考驾照 (kǎo jiàzhào) - The act of taking the tests to obtain a driver's license. The most common verb phrase associated with `驾照`.
• 驾校 (jiàxiào) - Driving school. Where one goes to learn to drive and prepare for the tests.
• 教练 (jiàoliàn) - Instructor or coach. In this context, it specifically means “driving instructor.”
• 行驶证 (xíngshǐzhèng) - Vehicle Registration Certificate. The license for the car itself, not the driver. A critical distinction.
• 老司机 (lǎo sījī) - “Old driver.” Refers to an experienced driver. It has also become a popular internet slang term for a veteran in any field, or someone who is “in the know,” especially about risqué topics.
• 新手 (xīnshǒu) - “New hand.” A novice or beginner driver, often marked by a sign on the back of their car.
• 驾龄 (jiàlíng) - “Driving age.” The amount of time one has held a driver's license, used to measure experience.
• 酒驾 (jiǔjià) - Drunk driving (literally “alcohol driving”). A serious offense.
• 交警 (jiāojǐng) - Traffic police. An abbreviation for `交通警察 (jiāotōng jǐngchá)`.
• 扣分 (kòu fēn) - To deduct points. The Chinese driver's license operates on a point system where you lose points for violations.