Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== chūjìng: 出境 - To Leave a Country, To Exit a Border ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 出境, chujing, chūjìng, leave China, exit a country, China border crossing, China customs, 出入境, Chinese for travel, go abroad from China, passport control China, immigration, departure. * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese term **出境 (chūjìng)**, which means "to leave a country" or "to exit a border." This guide explains everything you need to know about using chūjìng for travel, from navigating airport passport control in China to understanding official documents. Discover its cultural context, practical examples, and related terms like [[入境]] (rùjìng - to enter a country) for a complete understanding of Chinese for travel and border crossing. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chūjìng * **Part of Speech:** Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** To leave a country's national border; to pass through outbound immigration. * **In a Nutshell:** **出境 (chūjìng)** is the formal, official term for the act of physically leaving a country. Think of it as the specific moment you hand your passport to the immigration officer at the airport to get your exit stamp. It's not a casual word for "going on a trip abroad" but rather refers to the procedural act of "clearing outbound immigration." ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **出 (chū):** Meaning "to go out" or "to exit." The character is a pictogram that originally depicted a foot stepping out of a dwelling or enclosure, symbolizing movement outwards. * **境 (jìng):** Meaning "border," "boundary," or "territory." It's composed of the radical 土 (tǔ), which means "earth" or "land," and a phonetic component. Together, they signify the boundary of a piece of land or territory. * The combination **出境 (chūjìng)** is very literal: to **go out (出)** of a **border (境)**. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== While "leaving a country" might seem like a simple action, the term **出境 (chūjìng)** in China carries a weight of formality and state control that might differ from Western experiences, such as traveling within the EU's Schengen Area. Historically, for many decades in the 20th century, the ability for an ordinary citizen to **出境** was severely restricted and a rare privilege. Today, while international travel is common, the process remains highly formalized. The use of **出境** emphasizes that leaving the country is not just a personal trip but an official act monitored by the state. You don't just "leave"; you go through a specific, state-sanctioned procedure. This contrasts with a culture where borders are more fluid. Seeing signs for **出境** at an airport is a clear reminder of national sovereignty and the distinct boundary between China and the rest of the world. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **出境 (chūjìng)** is almost exclusively used in formal and official contexts related to travel and immigration. You will encounter it constantly in airports, on government websites, and in news reports. * **At the Airport:** Signs will direct you to **出境 (chūjìng)** for international departures. This is the area for passport control and security checks for leaving the country. It's often paired with [[入境]] (rùjìng) as **出入境** (Exit & Entry). * **Official Documents:** You will see this term on departure cards, visa applications, and in the name of the government body that manages this process: the **出入境管理局 (Chū Rù Jìng Guǎnlǐ Jú)**, or the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau. * **Connotation:** The term is neutral and procedural. It's a technical term, not an emotional one. You would not use it to tell a friend about your exciting vacation plans. For that, you would use the more general term [[出国]] (chūguó - to go abroad). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 办理**出境**手续的旅客请往这边走。 * Pinyin: Bànlǐ **chūjìng** shǒuxù de lǚkè qǐng wǎng zhèbiān zǒu. * English: Passengers handling departure procedures, please go this way. * Analysis: This is a typical announcement you would hear at a Chinese airport. It uses **出境** in a very procedural context. * **Example 2:** * 每次**出境**时，海关都会检查我的行李。 * Pinyin: Měi cì **chūjìng** shí, hǎiguān dōu huì jiǎnchá wǒ de xínglǐ. * English: Every time I leave the country, customs inspects my luggage. * Analysis: This sentence clearly links **出境** to the official actions (customs inspection) that happen at the border. * **Example 3:** * 他因为护照问题，暂时无法**出境**。 * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi hùzhào wèntí, zànshí wúfǎ **chūjìng**. * English: He is temporarily unable to leave the country due to a passport issue. * Analysis: This shows how **出境** is a legal and official act that can be permitted or denied. * **Example 4:** * 中国的**出入境**管理越来越方便了。 * Pinyin: Zhōngguó de **chū rù jìng** guǎnlǐ yuèláiyuè fāngbiàn le. * English: China's exit and entry administration is becoming more and more convenient. * Analysis: Here, **出境** is combined with **入境** to form a set concept, **出入境 (chū rù jìng)**, which means "exit and entry" or "immigration" in a general sense. * **Example 5:** * **出境**前，我需要给我的猫找个宠物旅馆。 * Pinyin: **Chūjìng** qián, wǒ xūyào gěi wǒ de māo zhǎo ge chǒngwù lǚguǎn. * English: Before I leave the country, I need to find a pet hotel for my cat. * Analysis: This demonstrates using **出境前** (before exiting the country) as a time marker for planning your departure. It's more formal than saying "before my trip." * **Example 6:** * 这是您的**出境**登记卡，请您确认信息。 * Pinyin: Zhè shì nín de **chūjìng** dēngjì kǎ, qǐng nín quèrèn xìnxī. * English: This is your departure card, please confirm the information. * Analysis: A clear example of **出境** being used as an adjective to describe an official document. * **Example 7:** * 由于疫情，政府收紧了**出境**政策。 * Pinyin: Yóuyú yìqíng, zhèngfǔ shōujǐn le **chūjìng** zhèngcè. * English: Due to the pandemic, the government has tightened its border exit policies. * Analysis: This shows the term used in a formal, governmental context, as seen in news reports. * **Example 8:** * 从深圳**出境**到香港非常快捷。 * Pinyin: Cóng Shēnzhèn **chūjìng** dào Xiānggǎng fēicháng kuàijié. * English: Crossing the border from Shenzhen to Hong Kong is very fast. * Analysis: This is a specific use case. Even though Hong Kong is part of China, it has a separate immigration system, so you must still **出境** from mainland China to enter it. * **Example 9:** * 我们的航班延误了，所以在**出境**大厅等了很久。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen de hángbān yánwù le, suǒyǐ zài **chūjìng** dàtīng děng le hěn jiǔ. * English: Our flight was delayed, so we waited in the departure hall for a long time. * Analysis: **出境大厅 (chūjìng dàtīng)** is the "departure hall," specifically the international one after check-in but before boarding. * **Example 10:** * 所有**出境**人员必须进行健康申报。 * Pinyin: Suǒyǒu **chūjìng** rényuán bìxū jìnxíng jiànkāng shēnbào. * English: All personnel exiting the country must make a health declaration. * Analysis: A very formal, official instruction you might see on a sign or government notice. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **出境 (chūjìng)** and **出国 (chūguó)**. * **出境 (chūjìng):** The procedural act of crossing a border (e.g., at the airport immigration counter). It focuses on the //process//. * **出国 (chūguó):** "To go abroad." The general concept of traveling to or being in a foreign country. It focuses on the //destination// and the //entire experience//. Think of it this way: To **出国 (chūguó)**, you must first **出境 (chūjìng)**. **Incorrect Usage Example:** * **Incorrect:** 我下个星期要**出境**去旅游。(Wǒ xià ge xīngqī yào **chūjìng** qù lǚyóu.) * **Why it's wrong:** This sounds like you're telling your friend, "Next week I have to perform the administrative procedure of exiting the border to travel." It's unnaturally formal and robotic. * **Correct:** 我下个星期要**出国**去旅游。(Wǒ xià ge xīngqī yào **chūguó** qù lǚyóu.) * **Explanation:** You're talking about the general plan of "going abroad," so **出国** is the natural choice. **When to use 出境:** Use it when you are talking about the specific immigration process, government regulations, or locations within an airport related to international departure. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[入境]] (rùjìng) - The direct antonym of **出境**. It means "to enter a country" or "to pass through inbound immigration." * [[出国]] (chūguó) - A more common, general verb meaning "to go abroad." This is what you use in daily conversation. * [[边境]] (biānjìng) - The physical border or frontier between two countries. * [[海关]] (hǎiguān) - Customs. The agency (and place) responsible for checking goods, not people. You clear **出境** (immigration) first, then sometimes **海关** (customs). * [[护照]] (hùzhào) - Passport. The essential document needed to **出境**. * [[签证]] (qiānzhèng) - Visa. The official permission to enter another country, which is often checked when you **出境**. * [[出入境管理局]] (chū rù jìng guǎnlǐ jú) - Exit and Entry Administration Bureau. The official government department in charge of immigration. * [[关口]] (guānkǒu) - A border crossing point, checkpoint, or pass. A more tangible word for a place where you cross a border. * [[过境]] (guòjìng) - To transit. To pass through a country on your way to another destination.