换证 (huànzhèng): to renew an ID/certificate

Meanings

1 to renew an ID/certificate
2 to exchange one's ID for a visitor pass (e.g. at a building entrance)

Characters

换

Examples

我的身份证过期了,需要去派出所换证。

Wǒ de shēnfènzhèng guòqī le, xūyào qù pàichūsuǒ huànzhèng.

My ID card has expired — I need to go to the police station to renew it.

进入大楼请先在前台换证。

Jìnrù dàlóu qǐng xiān zài qiántái huànzhèng.

To enter the building, please first exchange your ID for a visitor pass at the front desk.

Tips

usage

Two main everyday senses: (1) renewing an expired document (driver's license, ID card), and (2) the very common Chinese-mainland security routine where you hand over your ID at a reception desk and receive a temporary pass — you 换 it back when leaving.