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签字 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
签字qiānzìto sign (one's name)HSK 5, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #3395, Hard
签字qiānzìsignatureHSK 5, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #3395, Hard
qiānzì(qian1zi4)qian zi T1
  1. 1to sign (one's name)
  2. 2signature
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March 24, 2026

签字(簽字)qiānzì(qian1zi4)

签字 refers to the act of signing one's name, typically used to validate documents or express consent. This term is commonly encountered in formal situations such as contracts, legal papers, and official forms.

Strokes19Frequency#3395DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, signing documents often carries significant weight, reflecting trust and responsibility. Many people may use a chop (a personal seal) instead of a handwritten signature, especially in business contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of 签 (qiān) as a 'pen' making a 'mark' (字, zì) on paper. Imagine holding a pen and making a distinctive swirl that represents your unique signature, which is how you 'sign' your name.

Meanings of 签字

qiānzì(qian1zi4)
1to sign (one's name)
2signature
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About 签字

签字Simplified
簽字Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 签字

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Podcast: 签字

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AI Study Notes for 签字

Quick Contrast

签名 (qiānmíng) — use 签字 for formal signing of documents, while 签名 is more general and can refer to any signature, including artistic or informal contexts.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 签字 with just 签, which means 'to sign' without specifying that it's a signature. It's more formal and should be used in contexts involving documents. Be careful with the tone; the first character is pronounced with a high level tone (qian1) while the second has a falling tone (zi4).

HSK Study Tips

While 签字 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects to HSK 3 vocabulary related to actions and formal expressions. Focus on the context of signing documents, as this will help enhance your understanding of formal Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 签字 in informal contexts or confuse it with 签. For example, saying '我会签字在合同上' (I will sign on the contract) is correct, but saying '我会签在合同上' (I will sign on the contract) is less formal and can be misleading.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 签字

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Component Characters

签qiānto sign one's name
HSK 513 strokes⺮
View full entry
字zìletter
HSK 16 strokes子
View full entry

How to say to sign (one's name) in Chinese

“to sign (one's name)” in Chinese is签字qiānzì

签字 refers to the act of signing one's name, typically used to validate documents or express consent. This term is commonly encountered in formal situations such as contracts, legal papers, and official forms.

When to use 签字

Learners often confuse 签字 with just 签, which means 'to sign' without specifying that it's a signature. It's more formal and should be used in contexts involving documents. Be careful with the tone; the first character is pronounced with a high level tone (qian1) while the second has a falling tone (zi4).

签字 or something close to it

签名 (qiānmíng) — use 签字 for formal signing of documents, while 签名 is more general and can refer to any signature, including artistic or informal contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 签字 in informal contexts or confuse it with 签. For example, saying '我会签字在合同上' (I will sign on the contract) is correct, but saying '我会签在合同上' (I will sign on the contract) is less formal and can be misleading.

Write 签字

签
字

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Frequently Asked Questions about 签字

签 is a verb meaning 'to sign', while 签字 specifically refers to the act of signing one's name, emphasizing the formal aspect.

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