‘执照’ (zhí zhào) is a formal noun meaning 'license' or 'permit' — an official document that grants legal permission to do something, such as driving, practicing medicine, or operating a business. The first character 执 (zhí) means 'to hold' or 'to wield', suggesting possession or authority; the second character 照 (zhào) literally means 'light' or 'reflection', but in this compound it functions as a bound morpheme meaning 'certificate' or 'document'. Together, they convey the idea of holding an official document that authorizes action.

This word is commonly used in administrative, professional, and regulatory contexts — for example, driver’s licenses, business licenses, or teaching certificates. It carries a formal, bureaucratic tone and is rarely used in casual speech. Unlike more general terms like 证 (zhèng, 'certificate'), 执照 specifically implies legal authorization to perform an activity, not just proof of identity or qualification.