批准书 (pī zhǔn shū) — instrument of ratification (formal document confirming a treaty or agreement)

Definition

Formal legal document by which a country officially confirms (批准) a treaty, making it binding. Used in diplomatic and legislative contexts — distinct from the broader word 协议 ('agreement'), which refers to the deal itself before ratification.

noun
instrument of ratification (formal document confirming a treaty or agreement)
Measure word · 份

Examples

  • 批准书，。
    Liǎng guó jiāo huàn le pī zhǔn shū, tiáo yuē zhèng shì shēng xiào.
    The two countries exchanged instruments of ratification, and the treaty officially took effect.
  • 批准书，。
    Zǒng tǒng zài pī zhǔn shū shàng qiān zì hòu, jiāng qí dì jiāo lián hé guó.
    After the president signed the instrument of ratification, he submitted it to the United Nations.
  • 批准书。
    Zhè fèn pī zhǔn shū xū yào yì huì pī zhǔn cái néng shēng xiào.
    This instrument of ratification requires parliamentary approval before it can take effect.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

批准approval
批pīapprove准zhǔnallow
联合Side by side
书shūdocument

批准 gives approval, and 书 names the document, so it is a document of approval.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
比
比bǐ批pī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

批 puts 手 (hand) beside 比, which gives the sound.

Open 批 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 準; 准 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
隼
隼sǔn準zhǔn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 準, not 准, pairs 水 (water) with 隼 as a sound part; the evidence describes it as 'water level'.

Open 准 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →

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