Does this make sense?

[hanky]

Does "student card" make sense? What does this mean for you?
I wanted to use it to express "student Identification". Does it work?
Thanks.

[David L.]

That's what the piece of plastic acting as a student's identification, as being a registered student at a tertiary institution, is called: "You have to show your student card when you want to borrow a book from the library."

[hanky]

That's what the piece of plastic acting as a student's identification, as being a registered student at a tertiary institution, is called: "You have to show your student card when you want to borrow a book from the library."

Thanks David, May I know what "a tertiary institution" means?

[David L.]

Primary school
then
Secondary school - (high school)
then
Tertiary education - (education beyond that provided by schools, such as at a college or university)
Thanks David, May I know what "a tertiary institution" means?

'May I know...?" is asking my permission to know what it means. Your question is better phrased as:
"Thanks David; and could you tell me what "a tertiary institution" means? Thanks again."

(Between adults, in this situation, to say "and could you please tell me..." or "and could you.....means, please?" is just a bit too 'primary school' teacher - pupil. For my taste at least.)

[hanky]

Thanks David, May I know what "a tertiary institution" means?

'May I know...?" is asking my permission to know what it means. Your question is better phrased as:
"Thanks David; and could you tell me what "a tertiary institution" means? Thanks again."

Primary school
then
Secondary school - (high school)
then
Tertiary education - (education beyond that provided by schools, such as at a college or university)

Thanks David, I thought that "may I know..." is more polite than "could you tell me", that why I used it. (Of course I was asking for your permission to know it, if you agreed then you would tell me its meaning.) Am I wrong?

which sentence below is more polite?

Could you tell me ...., please?
Could you please tell me ... ?
Thanks again, David.

[hanky]

(Between adults, in this situation, to say "and could you please tell me..." or "and could you.....means, please?" is just a bit too 'primary school' teacher - pupil. For my taste at least.)

You meant that between adults, in this situation, there is no need to use please ? Thanks.

[David L.]

(Of course I was asking for your permission to know it, if you agreed then you would tell me its meaning.) Am I wrong?

Think about that! You are asking for my permission to know the meaning of a few English words. That is different from asking me, 'could you, David, take the time to post again and tell me what those words mean'.

You're determined to use PLEASE!
Then the sentence that would not sound too saccharine sweet would be:
Thanks David. Could you tell me what "a tertiary institution" means, please?

*saccharine sweet : to be cloying = disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment

...and being too polite and deferential*.

* noun: deference: showing an attitude of humble submission and respect

[hanky]

(Of course I was asking for your permission to know it, if you agreed then you would tell me its meaning.) Am I wrong?

Think about that! You are asking for my permission to know the meaning of a few English words. That is different from asking me, 'could you, David, take the time to post again and tell me what those words mean'.

You're determined to use PLEASE!
Then the sentence that would not sound too saccharine sweet would be:
Thanks David. Could you tell me what "a tertiary institution" means, please?

*saccharine sweet : to be cloying = disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment

...and being too polite and deferential.

You wanted to say that "don't be too saccharine sweet"? I see, we always fear melituria problem. LOL
Thank you so much, David.

[David L.]

Hmm. Knocked around hospitals, at the very least!

(Just so you know: 'melituria' is now regarded as an obsolete term for 'glycosuria'.)