签订

• Pinyin: qiān dìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 签 = 竹 + 佥, to sign; 订 = 讠(speech) + 丁, to settle/conclude

Meaning

To sign and conclude (an agreement); to execute (a contract). Formally entering into a binding agreement.

More formal than just 签, emphasizes the formal conclusion of an agreement: 签订合同 (sign a contract), 签订协议 (sign an agreement), 签订条约 (sign a treaty). Used in business, legal, and diplomatic contexts.

Examples

1. 双方经过谈判最终签订了合作协议。 After negotiations, both parties finally signed a cooperation agreement.
2. 公司与新员工签订劳动合同。 The company signs labor contracts with new employees.
3. 两国签订了友好条约。 The two countries signed a friendship treaty.

Usage Guide

Context: business, legal, diplomacy

Tone: official

Do Say

• 我们下周签订正式合同。(We will sign the formal contract next week.)
• 协议已经签订生效了。(The agreement has been signed and is in effect.)

Don't Say

• 我签订了这张纸。(签订 is for formal agreements, not casual documents — use 签 for simple signing)

Origin & History

签 (qiān, to sign) + 订 (dìng, to conclude/settle). To sign and settle; to execute formally.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal