Meaning and Usage
The verb '서명하다' means 'to sign' and is commonly used when referring to signing documents, letters, or contracts. It implies the act of writing one's name to confirm agreement or identity.
Common Contexts
You will often see '서명하다' used in formal or official contexts such as signing contracts (계약서에 서명하다), petitions, or legal documents. It can also be used in everyday situations like signing a letter.
Collocations and Patterns
- 계약서에 서명하다: to sign a contract, used in business or legal settings.
- 편지 끝에 서명하다: to sign at the end of a letter, common in personal correspondence.
- 전자 문서에 서명하다: to sign electronic documents, increasingly common with digital technology.
Register and Politeness
'서명하다' is a neutral verb suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, the formality depends on the sentence ending and overall context.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '서명하다' with '사인하다' which is a Konglish loanword also meaning 'to sign'. '서명하다' is more standard and preferred in formal writing and speech. Use '서명하다' when you want to sound natural and correct in Korean.