Meaning and Usage
"サイン" primarily means "signature" or "autograph" in Japanese. It is used both for personal signatures on documents and for autographs from celebrities or public figures.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "サイン" when someone asks for an autograph from a famous person or when signing official papers like contracts or forms.
Collocations and Patterns
- サインをもらう: to get an autograph
- サインをする／サインをする: to sign (a document)
- サイン帳 (サインちょう): autograph book
Register and Nuance
"サイン" is a loanword from English and is casual to neutral in tone. It is widely understood and used in everyday conversation as well as formal situations involving signing documents.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "サイン" with "署名" (しょめい), which is a more formal term for "signature" used in legal or official contexts. "サイン" is more general and common in daily use, including autographs.