5 · 40 words

Local government and administration

City halls and local offices, residence registration, notices, complaints and the people who keep a town running.

Local administration in China reaches down to the street and the housing estate, so these words turn up in everyday life: a notice from the 居委会(jūwěihuì), a trip to the 办事处(bànshìchù), a question about where your 户口(hùkǒu) is registered. Offices are named with 局(jú), bureau, as in 税务局(shuìwùjú), and their heads with 长(zhǎng): 市长(shìzhǎng), 局长(júzhǎng), 村长(cūnzhǎng) — always zhǎng, never cháng. Many words are abbreviations, such as 城管(chéngguǎn) and 环卫(huánwèi).

The words

Verb (7)

投诉(tóusù)to make a complaint; a complaintVerb5

楼(lóu)下(xià)的(de)饭馆(fànguǎn)太(tài)吵(chǎo)，几(jǐ)位(wèi)邻居(línjū)打电话(dǎdiànhuà)投诉(tóusù)了(le)。The restaurant downstairs was so noisy that several neighbours rang up to complain.

A formal complaint to someone who can act; grumbling is 抱怨(bàoyuàn).

备案(bèi'àn)to put on file (with an authority)Verb5

这(zhè)份(fèn)合同(hétong)要(yào)到(dào)有关(yǒuguān)部门(bùmén)备案(bèi'àn)。This contract has to be filed with the relevant department.

公示(gōngshì)to post publicly (for objections)Verb5

获奖(huòjiǎng)名单(míngdān)要(yào)先(xiān)公示(gōngshì)七(qī)天(tiān)。The list of prizewinners has to be posted publicly for seven days first.

Published so that anyone with an objection can raise it before it takes effect.

管辖(guǎnxiá)to have jurisdiction overVerb5

这(zhè)条(tiáo)街(jiē)不(bù)归(guī)我们(wǒmen)区(qū)管辖(guǎnxiá)。This street is not under our district’s jurisdiction.

拨款(bōkuǎn)to allocate funds; an allocationVerb5

市(shì)里(li)拨款(bōkuǎn)修(xiū)了(le)这(zhè)座(zuò)桥(qiáo)。The city allocated the money to build this bridge.

落户(luòhù)to register as a resident; to settleVerb5

他(tā)打算(dǎsuan)在(zài)工作(gōngzuò)的(de)城市(chéngshì)落户(luòhù)。He plans to register as a resident in the city where he works.

Also of companies or projects setting up in a place.

办证(bànzhèng)to apply for a permit or certificateVerb5

周一(zhōuyī)上午(shàngwǔ)来(lái)办证(bànzhèng)的(de)人(rén)特别(tèbié)多(duō)。There are especially many people applying for documents on Monday mornings.

This list belongs to The state, the law and public services — eight lists and 320 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.