护照
passport
hùzhào
What does 护照 mean?
护照 (hùzhào) is the travel document issued by your country's government that lets you cross international borders — a passport. Literally 'protect-certificate,' the name captures its dual purpose: an ID that proves who you are and a guarantee of safe passage.
Two practical notes for English speakers: first, the proper measure word is 本 (běn, used for booklets), so 一本护照, not 一个护照, sounds more polished; second, 护照 collocates with specific verbs that don't always match English — 办护照 (to apply for / get a passport made, not 'make'), 换护照 (to renew, literally 'exchange'), and 丢护照 (to lose). Travel-related vocabulary like 签证 (visa), 海关 (customs), and 机场 (airport) cluster around 护照 and are worth learning together.
Character breakdown
to protect; to guard
certificate; license; to shine
Memory hook: 护 (protect) + 照 (certificate) — the document that protects you while traveling.
Measure word for 护照
Example sentences
请给我看一下你的护照。
Qǐng gěi wǒ kàn yíxià nǐ de hùzhào.
Please let me see your passport.
polite, spoken
我下个月去办护照。
Wǒ xià ge yuè qù bàn hùzhào.
I'm going to apply for a passport next month.
neutral
出国一定要带护照。
Chū guó yídìng yào dài hùzhào.
You must bring your passport when going abroad.
neutral
他的护照下个月就过期了。
Tā de hùzhào xià ge yuè jiù guòqī le.
His passport expires next month.
neutral
Common phrases with 护照
Synonyms
通行证 is a generic 'pass / permit' for crossing a border or restricted area — like the Hong Kong-Macau permit Mainlanders use (港澳通行证). 护照 is specifically the international travel document used between countries.
Don't confuse 护照 with
签证 is a visa — the stamp/sticker in your passport letting you enter a specific country. 护照 is the booklet itself. You need both: the 护照 is yours forever; the 签证 is for one trip.
身份证 is a domestic ID card (Chinese citizens use it inside China). 护照 is for international travel. Different documents, different purposes.
Same 照 character, but 驾照 is a driver's license. 护照 lets you travel internationally; 驾照 lets you drive.
FAQ
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