Chinese word

海关

Pronunciation

Pinyinhǎi guān

Meaning

  • nouncustoms

Example

他的行李在海关被检查了。tā de xíng lǐ zài hǎi guān bèi jiǎn chá le

His luggage was inspected at customs.

Illustration for 海关 (customs)

More examples

我们出国时在机场通过海关。wǒ men chū guó shí zài jī chǎng tōng guò hǎi guān

When we go abroad, we go through customs at the airport.

Core concept

A government border gate where incoming and outgoing goods and luggage are checked and import duties are handled.

Common phrases

  • 通过海关tōng guò hǎi guān

    go through customs

  • 向海关申报xiàng hǎi guān shēn bào

    make a customs declaration

  • 海关检查hǎi guān jiǎn chá

    customs inspection

Similar words

关税guān shuì: Money charged by the government on goods imported or exported.
出入境chū rù jìng: The movement of people or goods into or out of a country and the procedures required for it.
检疫jiǎn yì: Checks and separation of people or goods to stop diseases or harmful pests from spreading.

Definition in Chinese

主管进出口物品及旅客随身物品查验并负责征收关税的政府机关。zhú guǎn jìn chū kǒu wù pǐn jí lǚ kè suí shēn wù pǐn chá yàn bìng fù zé zhēng shōu guān shuì de zhèng fǔ jī guān

Word origin

海关 (hǎiguān, "customs") combines 海 (hǎi, "sea") + 关 (guān, "gate or pass"), picturing a controlled port passage where goods are checked.

Usage tips

  • Chinese can let 海关 (hǎiguān, "customs") stand for the officials acting there, so a sentence can make the agency the checker without identifying one particular officer.

Related words

  • 海关人员hǎi guān rén yuáncustoms officialnoun
  • 海关申报hǎi guān shēn bàocustoms declarationnoun
  • 海关检查hǎi guān jiǎn chácustoms inspectionnoun

Word lists with this word