‘申请’ (shēnqǐng) is a verb meaning 'to apply (for)'—used when formally requesting something such as a visa, scholarship, job, permit, or membership. The character 申 (shēn) originally meant 'to state clearly' or 'to explain', and 请 (qǐng) means 'to request' or 'to invite'; together, they convey the idea of making a formal, documented request to an authority or institution.

This word is common in administrative, academic, and professional settings. It usually appears with objects like '签证' (visa), '大学' (university), or '工作' (job), and often follows subjects like '我' (I), '他' (he), or '公司' (company). While it can be used in spoken Chinese, it carries a formal tone—unlike casual alternatives like '要' (yào) or '想' (xiǎng). It’s rarely used without an object, and never stands alone as a command.