署名

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 署名 is read as しょめい and is a noun and する verb for signing one's name or for a signature expressing agreement or intent.
• Basic usage: Signing a contract appears in 契約書に署名する, while signatures being collected appears in 署名が集まる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Act and collected names
  • It can denote either the act of signing a document or the signatures gathered in support of a request.
• Difference from 名前
  • 名前 is a person's or thing's name itself, whereas 署名 is a name written on a document to indicate intent.