Translation guide
The act of writing one's signature, or communicating using sign language. This guide covers both meanings, with a focus on natural Japanese expressions.
To express the act of signing a document, contract, or similar.
The most common and neutral way to say 'to sign' (one's name). Used for documents, petitions, contracts, etc.
To express communication through sign language.
The standard way to say 'to use sign language' or 'to sign'.
Both mean 'to sign', but 署名 is more formal and often used for official documents, while サイン is casual and can also mean 'autograph'. In business, サイン is acceptable for less formal signing.
to sign a contract
Please sign the contract.
He signed the petition.
Loanword from English, very common in casual and business contexts. Often used for autographs or informal signing.
Please sign here.
I got an autograph from a celebrity.
To write one's name, often used in formal contexts like signing a register or attendance sheet. Less common than 署名する for legal documents.
Please sign in at the reception.
To affix one's seal (hanko). In Japan, this is often equivalent to signing, especially for official documents. Not used for handwritten signatures.
Please affix your seal to this document.
She can sign.
They are signing to each other.
Literally 'to use sign language'. Slightly more formal or descriptive than 手話をする.
Deaf people communicate using sign language.
色紙にサインする
to sign an autograph board
The English word 'signing' can also mean making a gesture or signal, but in Japanese, that is usually expressed with 合図する (あいずする) or 身振りで示す (みぶりでしめす), not 署名 or 手話.