龙标

Meaning:

Known as the “dragon logo” in Chinese, this term refers to the movie release permit granted by the China Film Administration, the regulatory body for films in the nation. A brief 4-second video showcases a golden film strip morphing into a dragon against a red backdrop within a golden-framed rectangle. This iconic emblem, the “dragon logo,” is displayed against a larger green background just before a film is screened in cinemas, signifying official approval. For filmmakers, securing the “dragon logo” is the last step, before their productions can hit screens on Chinese mainland.

Example:

A: 听说你哥制作的一部纪录片快公映了。

Tīngshuō nǐ gē zhìzuò de yībù jìlùpiàn kuài gōngyìng le。

I heard the documentary your big brother produced is hitting theaters soon.

B: 是的，从开机到现在已经四年了，上个月终于拿到了龙标。

Shì de，cóng kāijī dào xiànzài yǐjīng sìnián le，shàng ge yuè zhōngyú nádào le lóngbiāo。

Yes, it’s been four years since shooting began. He finally obtained the movie release permit last month.