Meaning of 签名
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to sign (one's name with a pen etc)
- to autograph
- signature
How to use 签名
签名 works as a verb, "to sign your name," and as a noun, "signature" or "autograph." You see it on forms, contracts, and at fan events. Example: 请在这里签名。(Qǐng zài zhèlǐ qiānmíng.) Please sign here.
签 (qiān) has the bamboo top ⺮, like the bamboo slips people once wrote on, and 名 (míng) means name. Putting your name on something with a brush or pen gives you 签名, to sign.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 签名 (qiānmíng, to sign your name) with 报名 (bàomíng, to sign up or register), because English uses "sign" for both. Also check the tone: 签 is first tone qiān, not fourth tone qiàn.
签名 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
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
名 míng · name · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 签名.
| 名字 | míngzi | name (of a person or thing) |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous; well-known |
| 名单 | míngdān | list of names |
| 姓名 | xìngmíng | surname and given name; full name |
| 名称 | míngchēng | name (of a thing); name (of an organization) |
| 报名 | bàomíng | to sign up; to enter one's name |
| 排名 | páimíng | to rank (1st, 2nd etc); ranking |
| 著名 | zhùmíng | famous; noted |
| 名人 | míngrén | personage; celebrity |
| 名片 | míngpiàn | (business) card |
| 点名 | diǎnmíng | roll call; to mention sb by name |
| 名牌儿 | míngpáir | erhua form of 名牌[ming2 pai2] |
Questions about 签名
What does 签名 mean?
签名 (qiānmíng) means "to sign (one's name with a pen etc); to autograph".
How do you write 签名?
签名 is made of 2 characters: 签 (13 strokes), 名 (6 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 签名 an HSK word?
Yes. 签名 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 签名 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 签名 is written 簽名.
What is the difference between 签名 and 签字?
Both mean to sign. 签字 (qiānzì) is more common for official documents and contracts. 签名 is broader and is the usual word for a celebrity autograph or an email or digital signature.
How do I ask a celebrity for an autograph in Chinese?
You can say 能给我签个名吗？(Néng gěi wǒ qiān ge míng ma?) Can you sign for me? Notice that 签名 can be split, with 个 placed between 签 and 名.