How common it is
签订 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say qiān dìng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
签订通常指双方正式同意并写下合同或协议。
Qiāndìng tōngcháng zhǐ shuāngfāng zhèngshì tóngyì bìng xiě xià hétong huò xiéyì.
Signing usually means both parties formally agree and write down a contract or agreement.
Context note
在签订前，要仔细阅读每一条内容。
Zài qiāndìng qián, yào zǐxì yuèdú měi yī tiáo nèiróng.
Before signing, you should carefully read every item.
5 examples
爸爸和公司签订了工作合同。
bà ba hé gōng sī qiān dìng le gōng zuò hé tong。
Dad signed a work contract with the company.
我们和邻居签订了借书协议。
wǒ men hé lín jū qiān dìng le jiè shū xié yì。
We signed a book-borrowing agreement with the neighbor.
学校与书店签订了购书合同。
xué xiào yǔ shū diàn qiān dìng le gòu shū hé tong。
The school signed a book purchase contract with the bookstore.
他们签订了租房子合同。
tā men qiān dìng le zū fáng zi hé tong。
They signed a house rental contract.
签订合同前要问清楚。
qiān dìng hé tong qián yào wèn qīng chǔ。
Ask clearly before signing a contract.
5 mini stories
小明和同学签订了一个读书计划。他们约定每天一起读半小时书。
xiǎo míng hé tóng xué qiān dìng le yí gè dú shū jì huà。 tā men yuē dìng měi tiān yì qǐ dú bàn xiǎo shí shū。
Xiao Ming and his classmate signed a reading plan. They agreed to read together for half an hour every day.
妈妈和花店签订了送花合同。每周都会收到新鲜的花。
mā ma hé huā diàn qiān dìng le sòng huā hé tong。 měi zhōu dōu huì shōu dào xīn xiān de huā。
Mom signed a flower delivery contract with the flower shop. She receives fresh flowers every week.
老师和我们签订了班级规则。大家都要遵守。
lǎo shī hé wǒ men qiān dìng le bān jí guī zé。 dà jiā dōu yào zūn shǒu。
The teacher signed class rules with us. Everyone must follow them.
爸爸和游泳馆签订了会员合同。我们可以经常去游泳。
bà ba hé yóu yǒng guǎn qiān dìng le huì yuán hé tong。 wǒ men kě yǐ jīng cháng qù yóu yǒng。
Dad signed a membership contract with the swimming pool. We can go swimming often.
签订友谊协议后，他们成了最好的朋友。
qiān dìng yǒu yì xié yì hòu， tā men chéng le zuì hǎo de péng yǒu。
After signing a friendship agreement, they became best friends.