The post office, the police station and the forms, stamps and queues of official business.
Official business in Chinese turns on the verb 办, “to handle, to get done”: you 办理 a card, go through the 手续, the formalities, and are sent to a numbered 窗口. Two habits surprise newcomers. Most offices want both the 原件 and a 复印件 of every document, and an official 公章, a stamp, often counts for more than a signature.
The words
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Verb (18)
申请to apply (for); applicationVerb4
她正在申请去英国的签证。She is applying for a visa to Britain.
办理to handle; to process; to go through (formalities)Verb4
在哪个窗口办理银行卡？Which counter do I go to to get a bank card?
The formal partner of 办, found on signs and in notices.
排队to queueVerb3
办签证的人很多，我排了两个小时的队。There were lots of people getting visas — I queued for two hours.
Separable: a length of time goes between 排 and 队.
填表to fill in a formVerb4
先填表，再去那边排队。Fill in the form first, then go and queue over there.
盖章to stamp (with an official seal)Verb4
合同签完字还要盖章。Once the contract is signed, it still has to be stamped.
补办to get a replacement (document)Verb4
身份证丢了要尽快补办。If you lose your ID card you need to get a replacement as soon as possible.
挂失to report the loss of (a card or document)Verb4
银行卡丢了，我马上打电话挂失了。When I lost my bank card, I phoned straight away to report it.
丢失to lose (formal)Verb4
如果证件丢失，请马上联系我们。If your documents are lost, please contact us immediately.
Formal; in speech 丢.
邮寄to send by postVerb4
证件办好以后，可以邮寄到你家。Once the document is ready, it can be posted to your home.
取号to take a (queue) numberVerb4
进门先在机器上取号，然后去旁边坐着等。When you go in, take a number from the machine and then sit down to wait.
咨询to ask for information; to consultVerb4
具体情况可以打这个电话咨询。For details, you can call this number and ask.
等候to wait (formal)Verb4
请在黄线外等候。Please wait behind the yellow line.
Formal, on signs and in announcements; in speech 等.
收费to charge (a fee)Verb4
停车场晚上八点以后不收费。The car park is free after eight in the evening.
报到to report (on arrival); to registerVerb4
新生九月一号到学校报到。New students report to the school on the first of September.
叫号to call out a queue numberVerb4
叫号的时候如果你不在，就得重新排队。If you’re not there when your number is called, you have to queue again.
审核to examine and approve (an application)Verb4
您的申请还在审核中，请耐心等待。Your application is still being processed; please be patient.
寄件to send (a parcel or letter)Verb4
寄件的时候要写清楚对方的电话。When you send something, write the recipient’s phone number clearly.
受理to accept (an application) for processingVerb4
材料不全的话，窗口不会受理。If your documents are incomplete, the counter won’t accept the application.
Official language: the step at which an office formally takes on a case.