旅券

りょけん

passport

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 旅券 (りょけん) is a formal term for "passport" used primarily in official or legal contexts. It is synonymous with パスポート but appears more often in government documents, immigration, and legal language.

Common Contexts

You will encounter 旅券 when dealing with travel documents, visa applications, or airport immigration procedures. It is important to note that in everyday conversation, パスポート is more common, while 旅券 is preferred in formal writing.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 旅券を持つ (りょけんをもつ): to have a passport
  • 旅券の有効期限 (りょけんのゆうこうきげん): passport validity period
  • 旅券を申請する (りょけんをしんせいする): to apply for a passport

These collocations are useful when discussing travel preparations or official procedures.

Register and Nuance

Using 旅券 instead of パスポート adds a formal tone. It is suitable for official announcements, legal documents, or formal speech. Learners should avoid mixing 旅券 with casual speech to maintain naturalness.

Common Mistake

A common learner mistake is confusing 旅券 with other travel-related documents like ビザ (visa). Remember, 旅券 specifically means "passport," which is different from a visa or other permits.

Example Sentences

かいがいりょこうにはかならずりょけんをもっていってください。

Be sure to take your passport when traveling abroad.

りょけんのゆうこうきげんをかくにんするのをわすれないでください。

Don't forget to check the validity period of your passport.

あたらしいりょけんをしんせいするためにしやくしょへいきました。

I went to the city hall to apply for a new passport.