Definitions

shǔ (noun) government office; bureau
shǔ (verb) to sign; to approve officially

Etymology phono-semantic

network

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 署 is a phono-semantic compound: the upper component 罒 (net) provides the semantic category, while the lower component 者 supplies the pronunciation. Originally, it referred to the act of arranging or positioning things, a sense that evolved toward deploying personnel or assigning official duties. This administrative connection established its primary modern meaning, a government office or bureau where public duties are carried out. The character also developed a secondary meaning: to sign one's name or affix a signature to a document, reflecting the act of assuming official responsibility or claiming authorship over a decision or text.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这份文件很重要。

Qiānshǔ zhè fèn wénjiàn hěn zhòngyào.

Signing this document is very important.

双方已签了合作协议。

Shuāngfāng yǐ qiānshǔ le hézuò xiéyì.

Both parties have signed the cooperation agreement.

部长正在部重要任务。

Bùzhǎng zhèngzài bùshǔ zhòngyào rènwu.

The minister is deploying important tasks.

军队完成了战略部

Jūnduì wánchéng le zhànlüè bùshǔ.

The military has completed its strategic deployment.

他暂时代理理局长职务。

Tā zànshí dàilǐ shǔlǐ júzhǎng zhíwù.

He is temporarily acting as the bureau chief.

请在表格末尾名。

Qǐng zài biǎogé mòwěi shǔmíng.

Please sign your name at the end of the form.

官方名的公告已经发布。

Guānfāng shǔmíng de gōnggào yǐjīng fābù.

The officially signed announcement has been released.

该地区曾设有行政公

Gāi dìqū céng shè yǒu xíngzhèng gōngshǔ.

This region once had an administrative office.