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签字 (qiān zì) — (verb) to sign (one's name); (noun) signature

Definition

Focuses on the act of signing one's name (on a document), and can also refer to the signature itself. 签订 and 签署 are used for signing treaties or contracts; 签名 is the more common everyday word for signature/autograph.

verb
to sign (one's name)
noun
signature

Examples

  • 签字。
    qiān zì Zhī qián qǐng rèn zhēn yuè dú hé tong.
    Please read the contract carefully before signing.
  • 签字。
    Qǐng zài wén jiàn shàng jiā nín de qiān zì.
    Please add your signature on the document.
  • 。
    Tā qiān le sān cì zì cái mǎn yì.
    He signed three times before he was satisfied.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

签qiānsign
字zìcharacters

签 (sign) and 字 (characters) combine to mean write one's name.

Characters in this word

Most 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
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.

Open 签 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →
Appears in
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