签证

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word "签证" (qīnzhuàn) is composed of two characters: "签" (qiān) and "证" (zhèng). The character "签" originally meant "a wooden slip used for writing or counting" and later came to mean "to sign" or "to issue a document". The character "证" originally meant "evidence" or "proof" and later came to mean "a certificate" or "a license". Together, the two characters "签证" mean "to issue a visa" or "to grant permission to enter a country".The word "签证" first appeared in Chinese in the late 19th century, when it was used to translate the English word "visa". The term was originally used in the context of international travel, but it has since been expanded to include other types of visas, such as work visas and student visas.The word "签证" is a common word in modern Chinese, and it is used in a variety of contexts. It is an important word for HSK learners to know, as it is often used in everyday conversation and in official documents.