签署 (qiān shǔ) — to sign (an agreement, contract, or official do…

Definition

签署 is the formal-written verb for 'to sign' a treaty, contract, or official agreement. Use it over 签 when the document is high-level or official.

verb

to sign (an agreement, contract, or official document)

签署。
Liǎng guó lǐng dǎo rén qiān shǔ le yǒu hǎo tiáo yuē.
The leaders of the two countries signed a treaty of friendship.
签署。
Zhè fèn hé tong xū yào shuāng fāng qiān shǔ cái néng shēng xiào.
This contract needs both parties to sign before it takes effect.
签署。
Tā dài biǎo gōng sī qiān shǔ le nà fèn xié yì.
He signed that agreement on behalf of the company.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

署shǔsign; affix a signature

签 and 署 both refer to putting one's name or signature, together meaning to sign.

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.

竹韱籤

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.

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

罒者署

Meaning part形符xíngfú

罒Written in full as网wǎngnet

Sound part声符shēngfú

者

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

署 shows a net 罒 for its meaning, and uses 者 to give its sound.

Appears in