签 (qiān) — to sign (one's name); to write brief comments on a document
Definition
签 (qiān) is a verb meaning 'to sign' or 'to annotate briefly' on a document. It is usually used by itself to describe the act of signing, while 签名 and 签字 refer more to the signed name itself (the signature).
noun
to sign (one's name)to write brief comments on a document
Examples
- 签。Qǐng zài zhè lǐ qiān shàng nín de míng zì.Please sign your name here.
- 签。Tā qiān wán hé tong jiù zǒu le.He left after signing the contract.
- 。Zhè fèn wén jiàn xū yào jīng lǐ qiān zì.This document needs the manager to sign.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 籤; 签 is its simplified writing.
The simplified 签 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (签, 签订) it is 簽; in others it is 籤.
Sound part声符shēngfú
韱
韱xiān籤⁰qiān(r)
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 籤 shows 竹, bamboo, for the material, plus 韱 to give the sound; the simplified 签 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
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