When you travel to a new country, you must show your passport at the airport. This is called passing through customs. You walk to the desk, talk to the officer, and then you are free to go!
After you land at the airport, you need to pass through customs to enter the country. The officers check your bags and your passport. It is a normal part of every international trip.
To pass through customs is the formal procedure of having your travel documents and luggage inspected at a border. Most travelers find it routine, but it is important to be honest about what you are carrying to avoid delays.
The phrase pass through customs refers to the mandatory checkpoint where border authorities verify your entry eligibility. It is often synonymous with 'clearing customs,' a term used frequently in international logistics and business travel.
In a geopolitical context, the ability to pass through customs signifies the legal transition of a person or commodity across sovereign borders. It involves a complex interplay of international law, security protocols, and administrative efficiency.
Historically, the act of passing through customs represents the formal submission to a state's regulatory authority. It is a ritualized encounter that balances the state's need for security with the individual's right to international mobility, often involving nuanced diplomatic protocols.
过海关 in 30 Seconds
- Refers to the process of being inspected at a border.
- Always use the phrase 'pass through customs'.
- Immigration checks people; customs checks goods.
- It is a standard, neutral term for international travel.
When you pass through customs, you are completing a vital step in international travel. It is the moment you transition from being a visitor in transit to being an official guest in a new country.
The process usually involves walking through a designated area where officers check your passport, visa, and luggage. Think of it as the 'gatekeeper' of a nation, ensuring safety and compliance with trade rules.
The word customs comes from the Old French 'custume', meaning a habitual practice or a tax paid to a king. Historically, these were 'customary' tolls collected at city gates or ports.
Over centuries, these collection points evolved into the modern government agencies we recognize today. The term pass through simply denotes the physical movement from the outside world into the sovereign territory of a nation.
You will most commonly use this phrase when talking about your travel itinerary. It is a standard neutral term used by both travelers and officials.
Common collocations include clear customs, go through customs, and customs declaration. It is appropriate in both casual conversation and formal business travel contexts.
1. Clear customs: To successfully finish the inspection. Example: 'Did you clear customs quickly?'
2. Customs clearance: The formal approval to move goods. Example: 'We are waiting for customs clearance on the shipment.'
3. Nothing to declare: The phrase used when you have no restricted items. Example: 'I walked through the green channel with nothing to declare.'
4. Customs check: A spot inspection. Example: 'I got pulled over for a random customs check.'
5. Red channel: The area for those with goods to declare. Example: 'Go to the red channel if you have items to report.'
This is a phrasal verb construction followed by a noun. The IPA is /pæs θruː ˈkʌstəmz/. Note that 'customs' is almost always plural in this context.
It rhymes with 'fumes' (in the sense of the 'ums' sound) and follows a standard Subject-Verb-Preposition-Object pattern.
Fun Fact
Customs were originally taxes on goods entering a king's land.
Pronunciation Guide
- pronouncing 'th' as 's'
- forgetting the 's' in customs
- misplacing stress on 'through'
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Common phrase
Common in travel
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Phrasal Verbs
pass through
Plural Nouns
customs
Modal Verbs
must pass
Examples by Level
I pass through customs at the airport.
I go through the inspection.
Simple present.
He passes through customs now.
He is doing it now.
Third person singular.
We pass through customs together.
We go as a group.
Subject-verb agreement.
Did you pass through customs?
Past tense question.
Past tense.
They pass through customs quickly.
They are fast.
Adverb usage.
I will pass through customs later.
Future action.
Future tense.
She needs to pass through customs.
It is required.
Modal verb.
Don't forget to pass through customs.
Reminder.
Imperative.
I had to pass through customs with my heavy bags.
Does everyone have to pass through customs here?
The line to pass through customs was very long.
We finally passed through customs after an hour.
Please pass through customs before you leave the terminal.
He helped me pass through customs with my dog.
It is easy to pass through customs if you have nothing to declare.
They passed through customs without any problems.
International students must pass through customs upon arrival.
The officer asked me to pass through customs for a secondary check.
Passing through customs can be stressful if you are tired.
I usually pass through customs within twenty minutes.
Make sure you have your forms ready when you pass through customs.
The airline crew does not have to pass through customs the same way.
We were delayed while trying to pass through customs.
You are required to pass through customs at your first port of entry.
After clearing immigration, you still have to pass through customs.
The process of passing through customs is strictly regulated.
He managed to pass through customs despite the missing paperwork.
Passing through customs is a standard requirement for all international arrivals.
I prefer to pass through customs at smaller airports to save time.
The customs officer told us we could pass through customs after the inspection.
Don't underestimate how long it takes to pass through customs.
She was nervous to pass through customs with her expensive camera equipment.
The efficiency with which one can pass through customs often reflects a country's diplomatic relations.
Bureaucratic hurdles can make it difficult to pass through customs in certain jurisdictions.
He was detained while attempting to pass through customs due to a visa discrepancy.
Passing through customs is a quintessential experience of the globalized traveler.
The expedited lane allows frequent flyers to pass through customs more rapidly.
Navigating the complexities of international trade requires understanding how to pass through customs.
The security protocols required to pass through customs have tightened significantly.
One must be prepared for rigorous scrutiny when they pass through customs.
The ritualized act of passing through customs serves as a modern manifestation of border sovereignty.
Historically, the mandate to pass through customs was a method of enforcing mercantilist policies.
The psychological weight of having to pass through customs is a common theme in travel literature.
Technological advancements are currently revolutionizing the way passengers pass through customs.
The inherent power dynamic when one must pass through customs is undeniable.
To pass through customs is to submit oneself to the overarching authority of the state.
The administrative burden of passing through customs is a significant factor in global trade.
One's ability to pass through customs is often a privilege determined by nationality.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Clear the decks"
To prepare for action
Clear the decks before you pass through customs.
idiomatic"Red tape"
Excessive bureaucracy
There is a lot of red tape when you pass through customs.
common"Green channel"
The path for nothing to declare
I took the green channel to pass through customs.
travel"Border line"
The physical boundary
I passed through customs at the border line.
neutral"Paper trail"
The documents you have
Keep a paper trail when you pass through customs.
business"On the level"
Honest/legal
Everything I had was on the level when I passed through customs.
informalEasily Confused
Both happen at the border
Immigration checks people; customs checks items
I went through immigration, then customs.
Often same location
Passport control is a specific type of immigration
Passport control was fast.
Both involve bags
Security is for safety; customs is for trade/laws
Security check happens before boarding.
Related to entry
Visa is a document; customs is a process
I showed my visa at customs.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + must + pass through customs
You must pass through customs.
Subject + had to + pass through customs
I had to pass through customs.
Subject + will + pass through customs
We will pass through customs soon.
It is easy to + pass through customs
It is easy to pass through customs here.
After + passing through customs + , + subject + verb
After passing through customs, I left.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
-
pass customs
→
pass through customs
You pass through a process, not just the noun.
-
go to customs
→
go through customs
It describes a process you undergo.
-
pass the customs
→
pass through customs
No article 'the' is needed here.
-
customs is easy
→
customs are easy
Customs is treated as a plural noun.
-
I passed customs inspection
→
I passed through customs
The phrase 'pass through customs' is a set idiom.
Tips
The 'The' Rule
Never use 'the' before customs.
The 'S' Sound
Don't forget the final 's' in customs.
Contextualize
Link this word to 'passport' and 'luggage'.
Be Prepared
Always have your documents ready.
Don't mix up Immigration
Immigration = People, Customs = Goods.
History
It started as a tax!
Plurality
Treat it as a plural noun.
Formal vs Informal
It works in all settings.
Visuals
Look at airport maps.
Rhyme
Think 'Customs-Rooms'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Customs = Cost-ums (The cost of entering).
Visual Association
A long line of people waiting to show passports.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe your last airport experience in three sentences.
Word Origin
Old French
Original meaning: Toll or tax
Cultural Context
Can be a stressful experience for many; use with empathy.
Common in all English-speaking countries as a standard airport procedure.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Airport arrival
- Where is customs?
- I have nothing to declare.
- Is this the green channel?
Business travel
- Customs clearance
- Import duty
- Shipping documents
Border crossing
- Passport ready
- Secondary inspection
- Entry permit
International shipping
- Clear the shipment
- Customs broker
- Duty free
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever had trouble when passing through customs?"
"Do you prefer the red or green channel?"
"What is the most interesting thing you have brought through customs?"
"How long does it usually take you to pass through customs?"
"Do you find passing through customs stressful?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your first time traveling abroad.
Write about a time you were nervous at an airport.
Explain why customs regulations are important.
If you were a customs officer, what would you look for?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsAlways 'pass through customs'.
Only if you have goods that require tax.
Immigration is for people; customs is for goods.
Yes, it applies to any port of entry.
Yes, in this context.
You may be denied entry or fined.
Yes, 'pass through' is the phrasal verb.
No, drop the 'the'.
Test Yourself
I have to ___ through customs.
The phrase is pass through.
What does 'pass through customs' mean?
It is a border inspection.
You pass through customs before you get on the plane.
Usually you do it after landing.
Word
Meaning
Definition match.
Subject-verb-object order.
Score: /5
Summary
Passing through customs is the standard, mandatory process of getting your goods and documents checked when you enter a new country.
- Refers to the process of being inspected at a border.
- Always use the phrase 'pass through customs'.
- Immigration checks people; customs checks goods.
- It is a standard, neutral term for international travel.
The 'The' Rule
Never use 'the' before customs.
The 'S' Sound
Don't forget the final 's' in customs.
Contextualize
Link this word to 'passport' and 'luggage'.
Be Prepared
Always have your documents ready.
Example
我们需要排队过海关。
