cou2 cim1草簽草签
Jyutpingcou2 cim1
Yalechóu chīm
Definition
To initial a document, especially to sign a draft treaty or agreement before official ratification.
neutralwork
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of signing one's initials on a document to indicate approval or a provisional agreement. It is common in formal business or legal contexts where a full signature is not yet required or appropriate. Unlike a full signature, this indicates a preliminary step in the signing process.
Examples
The contract needs to be initialed before it can take effect.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with signing a full name, which is 簽名. Using this word for a full signature will sound incorrect to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
