批准 (pī zhǔn) is a formal verb meaning 'to approve' or 'to authorize', typically used in official, administrative, or institutional contexts. It combines 批 (pī), meaning 'to issue an official comment or decision', and 准 (zhǔn), meaning 'to permit' or 'to allow'. Together, they convey the sense of an authoritative body formally granting permission or endorsing a proposal, application, or plan.

This word is commonly used in government, business, education, and healthcare settings — for example, when a regulatory agency approves a new drug, a university approves a student’s study abroad application, or a supervisor approves a leave request. It implies a hierarchical relationship: the approver holds authority, and the approval carries legal or procedural weight. It is rarely used in casual speech and is almost always transitive, requiring an object (e.g., 批准申请, 批准计划).