签 meaning in English
to sign one's name; to write brief comments on a document
Meaning of 签
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to sign one's name
- to write brief comments on a document
- inscribed bamboo stick (variant of 籤|签[qian1])
- visa
- inscribed bamboo stick (used in divination, gambling, drawing lots etc)
- small wood sliver
- label
- tag
How to use 签
As a verb, 签 means to sign, and it usually appears in compounds like 签名 (qiānmíng), 签字 (qiānzì), and 签约 (qiānyuē). As a noun, it means a label, a tag, or a small stick, as in 牙签 (yáqiān, toothpick) or 标签 (biāoqiān, label). Example: 请在这里签字。(Qǐng zài zhèlǐ qiānzì.) Please sign here.
签 has the bamboo top ⺮ over 佥 (qiān), which also gives the sound. Picture a bamboo stick with writing on it, the kind you draw for luck or use to mark your name.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 签 with 答 (dá, to answer) or 算 (suàn, to calculate), because all three have the bamboo top. Look at the bottom: 签 has 佥, which looks like a roof over two dots and a line.
签 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
签 qiān · to sign one's name · 13 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 签.
| 签名 | qiānmíng | to sign (one's name with a pen etc); to autograph |
| 签字 | qiānzì | to sign (one's name); signature |
| 签约 | qiānyuē | to sign a contract or agreement |
| 签证 | qiānzhèng | visa; to issue a visa |
| 签订 | qiāndìng | to agree to and sign (a treaty etc) |
| 签署 | qiānshǔ | to sign (an agreement) |
| 标签 | biāoqiān | label; tag |
| 抽签 | chōuqiān | to perform divination with sticks; to draw lots |
| 签收 | qiānshōu | to sign to acknowledge receipt of sth (e.g. a delivery or document) |
| 牙签 | yáqiān | toothpick |
| 签到 | qiāndào | to register; to sign in |
| 签发 | qiānfā | to issue (a document); to sign and issue officially |
Questions about 签
What does 签 mean?
签 (qiān) means "to sign one's name; to write brief comments on a document" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 签?
签 is made of 1 character: 签 (13 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 签 an HSK word?
Yes. 签 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 签 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 签 is written 簽.
What is the difference between 签名 and 签字?
Both mean to sign your name. 签字 is common on official papers and contracts, while 签名 is also used for autographs, such as asking a star to sign something.
What does 抽签 mean?
抽签 (chōuqiān) means to draw lots. It comes from the old practice of pulling an inscribed bamboo stick, and today it is used for random draws, like deciding the order in a competition.