Usage note
海关是检查进出国境物品的地方。
hǎi guān shì jiǎn chá jìn chū guó jìng wù pǐn de dì fāng。
海关 means customs, the place that checks items entering or leaving a country.
Context note
海关常用于旅行、机场和边境。
hǎi guān cháng yòng yú lǚ xíng 、 jī chǎng hé biān jìng。
It is often used with travel, airports, and borders.
5 examples
我在海关排队。
wǒ zài hǎi guān pái duì。
I am lining up at customs.
海关检查很严格。
hǎi guān jiǎn chá hěn yán gé。
Customs inspection is strict.
过海关要准备证件。
guò hǎi guān yào zhǔn bèi zhèng jiàn。
You need documents to pass customs.
海关人员很认真。
hǎi guān rén yuán hěn rèn zhēn。
The customs officers are very serious.
行李要经过海关。
xíng li yào jīng guò hǎi guān。
Luggage has to go through customs.
5 mini stories
他们在机场海关等了很久。
tā men zài jī chǎng hǎi guān děng le hěn jiǔ。
They waited a long time at airport customs.
老师给大家讲了过海关的流程。
lǎo shī gěi dà jiā jiǎng le guò hǎi guān de liú chéng。
The teacher explained the customs process to everyone.
海关人员检查了行李。
hǎi guān rén yuán jiǎn chá le xíng li。
The customs officers checked the luggage.
去国外旅行时，要注意海关规定。
qù guó wài lǚ xíng shí， yào zhù yì hǎi guān guī dìng。
When traveling abroad, pay attention to customs rules.
他顺利通过了海关。
tā shùn lì tōng guò le hǎi guān。
He passed customs smoothly.
Mini dialogue
At the airport
A
我们到了机场，要先过海关。
Wǒmen dàole jīchǎng, yào xiān guò hǎiguān.
We arrived at the airport, we need to go through customs first.
B
好的，海关检查行李吗？
Hǎo de, hǎiguān jiǎnchá xíngli ma?
Okay, does customs check luggage?
A
是的，我们要配合检查。
Shì de, wǒmen yào pèihé jiǎnchá.
Yes, we need to cooperate with the check.
Sending a gift
A
妈妈从国外寄了礼物，海关会检查吗？
Māma cóng guówài jìle lǐwù, hǎiguān huì jiǎnchá ma?
Mom sent a gift from abroad, will customs check it?
B
可能会，这是海关的工作。
Kěnéng huì, zhè shì hǎiguān de gōngzuò.
Maybe, it's the job of customs.
Related words and contrasts
related
边境
biānjìng
border
边境 refers to the border of a country, where customs checks may also happen.
related
护照
hùzhào
passport
护照 is a passport, a document you need when going through customs.
related
检查
jiǎnchá
inspection
检查 means inspection, which is what customs officers do.