Los Angeles Chinese Consulate

[Bob & Minglian]

Wouldn't jiehunzhengshu be more like "marriage book", with jiehunzhengzher being closer to marriage certificate?

Well, I suppose someone fluent in both languages may be able to make the distinction. Yes, "shu" (level tone) is literally translated as "book," yet I see the translation of "jiehun zhengshu" to be that of "marriage certificate." I agree with you in that "marriage book" makes more sense, especially when looking at the "little red book" itself. Either way, I carefully guard it and my passport when I travel to China.