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. ====== xǔkě: 许可 - Permit, License, Permission ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** xuke, xǔkě, 许可, Chinese for permission, Chinese for license, permit in Chinese, official permission, what does xuke mean, 许可 vs 同意, HSK 5 vocabulary, formal Chinese * **Summary:** Learn the Chinese word **许可 (xǔkě)**, a key term for "permission," "license," or "permit." This page breaks down its meaning for beginners, exploring its use in formal, legal, and business contexts. Discover the difference between **许可 (xǔkě)** and other words like **同意 (tóngyì)**, and learn how to use it correctly in sentences to talk about everything from software licenses to official permits. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xǔkě * **Part of Speech:** Noun / Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** To permit or allow; a license or official permission. * **In a Nutshell:** **许可 (xǔkě)** is the word you use for formal, official authorization. It's not the casual "okay" you get from a friend to borrow a book. Instead, think of the "permission" you need from an authority—a government agency, a company, or a parent in a formal situation. As a noun, it refers to the actual permit or license itself. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **许 (xǔ):** This character means "to allow," "to permit," or "to praise." It's composed of the speech radical `讠(yán)` and `午 (wǔ)`. Think of it as giving a solemn, spoken word (`讠`) of approval. * **可 (kě):** This character means "can," "able to," or "may." It signifies possibility or approval. * Together, **许可 (xǔkě)** literally means "to allow [something to be] possible," which perfectly captures the idea of granting formal permission or a license to do something. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Western cultures, "permission" can range from a casual nod to a signed contract. In China, **许可 (xǔkě)** leans heavily toward the formal, bureaucratic end of that spectrum. It reflects a cultural and administrative environment where official sanction is often a prerequisite for action, be it starting a business, constructing a building, or even holding a public event. This contrasts with the Western concept of "getting the green light," which can often be informal. Obtaining a **许可** in China often involves a clear, hierarchical process of application and approval (批准, pīzhǔn). This isn't necessarily negative; it's simply a more structured approach that emphasizes the importance of authority and proper procedure. Understanding **许可** is understanding a key piece of how modern Chinese society, business, and government operate. It's about knowing the proper channels to go through to get things done officially. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **许可 (xǔkě)** is a high-frequency word in formal settings. You will encounter it constantly in legal documents, business contracts, government notices, and software agreements. * **As a Noun (The Permit/License):** It often combines with other words to specify the type of license. The physical document is usually called a `许可证 (xǔkězhèng)`. * `营业许可 (yíngyè xǔkě)` - Business License * `驾驶许可 (jiàshǐ xǔkě)` - Driving Permit * **As a Verb (To Permit/Allow):** It's used to state that an authority grants or does not grant permission. * `法律不许可... (fǎlǜ bù xǔkě...)` - The law does not permit... * `公司许可我们... (gōngsī xǔkě wǒmen...)` - The company permits us to... * **In Digital and IP Contexts:** This is extremely common in the tech world. * `软件使用许可协议 (ruǎnjiàn shǐyòng xǔkě xiéyì)` - Software License Agreement (the long text you click "I agree" to). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们需要拿到政府的**许可**才能开始施工。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào nádào zhèngfǔ de **xǔkě** cái néng kāishǐ shīgōng. * English: We need to get the government's permit before we can start construction. * Analysis: Here, **许可** is used as a noun, meaning a formal, official "permit." This is a classic example of its use in a bureaucratic or legal context. * **Example 2:** * 未经**许可**，任何人不得进入此区域。 * Pinyin: Wèijīng **xǔkě**, rènhé rén bùdé jìnrù cǐ qūyù. * English: Without permission, no one is allowed to enter this area. * Analysis: This is a common phrase on warning signs. **未经许可 (wèijīng xǔkě)** is a set phrase meaning "without having gone through the process of getting permission." * **Example 3:** * 你必须同意软件**许可**协议才能安装这个程序。 * Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū tóngyì ruǎnjiàn **xǔkě** xiéyì cái néng ānzhuāng zhège chéngxù. * English: You must agree to the software license agreement to install this program. * Analysis: **许可** is used here as a noun within the term "license agreement." This is a very common usage in the digital age. * **Example 4:** * 法律不**许可**未成年人饮酒。 * Pinyin: Fǎlǜ bù **xǔkě** wèichéngniánrén yǐnjiǔ. * English: The law does not permit minors to drink alcohol. * Analysis: Here, **许可** is used as a verb, "to permit." It conveys a formal prohibition dictated by law. * **Example 5:** * 他获得了父母的**许可**，可以去参加夏令营。 * Pinyin: Tā huòdéle fùmǔ de **xǔkě**, kěyǐ qù cānjiā xiàlìngyíng. * English: He obtained his parents' permission to go to the summer camp. * Analysis: While often formal, **许可** can be used in family contexts to imply a serious or formal granting of permission, as opposed to a casual "okay." * **Example 6:** * 这家公司**许可**我们在网站上使用他们的徽标。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī **xǔkě** wǒmen zài wǎngzhàn shàng shǐyòng tāmen de huībiāo. * English: This company permits us to use their logo on our website. * Analysis: A clear example of **许可** as a verb in a business context, meaning "to grant permission" or "to license." * **Example 7:** * 如果没有特别**许可**，这个药品是不能出售的。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu tèbié **xǔkě**, zhège yàopǐn shì bùnéng chūshòu de. * English: This medicine cannot be sold without a special permit. * Analysis: **许可** is used as a noun, emphasizing the need for a specific, official authorization. * **Example 8:** * 他的驾驶**许可**因为多次违规被吊销了。 * Pinyin: Tā de jiàshǐ **xǔkě** yīnwèi duō cì wéiguī bèi diàoxiāole. * English: His driving permit was revoked due to multiple violations. * Analysis: Shows **许可** as part of a compound noun (`驾驶许可`) referring to a specific official document. * **Example 9:** * 你需要提交书面申请来获得**许可**。 * Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào tíjiāo shūmiàn shēnqǐng lái huòdé **xǔkě**. * English: You need to submit a written application to obtain permission. * Analysis: This sentence highlights the formal process often associated with getting a **许可**. * **Example 10:** * 博物馆**许可**游客在不使用闪光灯的情况下拍照。 * Pinyin: Bówùguǎn **xǔkě** yóukè zài bù shǐyòng shǎnguāngdēng de qíngkuàng xià pāizhào. * English: The museum permits visitors to take photos without using a flash. * Analysis: A good example of an institution (the authority) using the verb **许可** to state its official policy. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common mistake for learners is confusing **许可** with other words for "permission" or "agreement." * **许可 (xǔkě) vs. 同意 (tóngyì):** * **许可 (xǔkě):** Formal permission from an authority. It's about being //allowed// to do something. Think "license" or "permit." * **同意 (tóngyì):** General agreement or consent. It's about sharing an //opinion//. Think "agree with." * **Incorrect:** `我同意你进入。(Wǒ tóngyì nǐ jìnrù.)` - This sounds like "I agree with the fact that you are entering." * **Correct:** `我许可你进入。(Wǒ xǔkě nǐ jìnrù.)` or more naturally, `我允许你进入。(Wǒ yǔnxǔ nǐ jìnrù.)` - "I permit you to enter." * **Correct:** `我同意你的看法。(Wǒ tóngyì nǐ de kànfǎ.)` - "I agree with your viewpoint." * **许可 (xǔkě) vs. 允许 (yǔnxǔ):** * **允许 (yǔnxǔ)** is a very common verb for "to allow" or "to permit." It's often interchangeable with the verb form of **许可** but is slightly less formal and more common in everyday speech. If you're unsure which verb to use for "to permit," **允许 (yǔnxǔ)** is often a safer and more natural choice. **许可** carries a stronger sense of official or legal sanction. * **Using 许可 for Casual Requests:** * Never use **许可** for small, everyday requests. * **Incorrect:** `我需要你的许可借你的笔吗？ (Wǒ xūyào nǐ de xǔkě jiè nǐ de bǐ ma?)` - This sounds absurdly formal. * **Correct:** `我可以用一下你的笔吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ yòng yīxià nǐ de bǐ ma?)` - "Can I use your pen for a moment?" ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[许可证]] (xǔkězhèng) - The noun for the physical document: a "license" or "permit card." * [[批准]] (pīzhǔn) - To approve; to ratify. This is the //action// an authority takes to grant a `许可`. * [[允许]] (yǔnxǔ) - To allow; to permit. A very common verb, often a synonym for `许可` but slightly less formal. * [[同意]] (tóngyì) - To agree; to consent. Refers to agreement in opinion, not formal authorization. * [[执照]] (zhízhào) - A license, especially a business license (`营业执照 yíngyè zhízhào`) or professional license. Very similar to `许可证`. * [[授权]] (shòuquán) - To authorize; to empower. To grant someone the authority to act on one's behalf. * [[禁止]] (jìnzhǐ) - To prohibit; to forbid. The direct antonym of the verb `许可`. * [[规定]] (guīdìng) - A rule; a regulation. The set of rules that might require you to obtain a `许可`.