Keywords: 续签, xuqian, renew visa China, renew contract China, renew lease Chinese, extend visa, extend contract, 续签签证, 续签合同, Chinese for renew, what does xuqian mean.
Summary: An essential verb for anyone living or working in China, 续签 (xùqiān) means “to renew” or “extend” an official agreement, most commonly a visa, work contract, or apartment lease. Understanding how to use 续签 is a practical necessity for navigating the administrative aspects of life in China, from keeping your legal status to securing your housing and employment. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and crucial usage examples.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): xùqiān
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To continue an agreement by signing a new contract or document.
In a Nutshell: Think of 续签 (xùqiān) as the official action of “signing on for another round.” It's a very direct and procedural term. When your visa is about to expire, you must 续签. When your one-year work contract ends, your company might offer to 续签. The word itself implies a formal process involving signatures and paperwork to continue something that would otherwise end.
Character Breakdown
续 (xù): This character means “to continue,” “to extend,” or “to add on.” The left side is the “silk” radical (纟), hinting at connecting or adding more thread to make something longer. The right side provides the pronunciation.
签 (qiān): This character means “to sign” or “a signature.” The bamboo radical (竹) at the top is a nod to ancient times when documents were written on bamboo slips. So, it's connected to writing or marking something official.
Together, 续 (continue) + 签 (sign) literally means “to continue by signing.” This perfectly captures the essence of renewing a formal agreement.
Cultural Context and Significance
The significance of 续签 (xùqiān) is less about deep philosophy and more about the practical, bureaucratic realities of modern China. For any foreigner (and many Chinese citizens), life is punctuated by the need to 续签 various documents.
Comparison with Western Culture: In many Western countries, renewals can sometimes be automatic or informal. For example, after a one-year lease, an apartment might automatically go “month-to-month.” In China, this is less common. The 续签 process is typically a very deliberate, active step you must initiate. For a visa or residence permit, it's a non-negotiable, often paper-intensive procedure that requires planning.
This reflects a cultural and administrative norm that values explicit, documented agreements. There's less reliance on implicit understandings. For a learner, this means you must be proactive. Don't assume your contract or visa will be extended automatically; you must actively seek to 续签 it, often well before the expiration date (到期日 dàoqīrì).
Practical Usage in Modern China
续签 is a high-frequency, practical term used in formal and everyday situations concerning agreements.
Visas and Residence Permits: This is the most common use for expatriates. You talk about `续签签证 (xùqiān qiānzhèng)` (renewing a visa) or `续签居留许可 (xùqiān jūliú xǔkě)` (renewing a residence permit).
Employment Contracts: When discussing job stability, you might ask a colleague, `公司跟你续签合同了吗？ (Gōngsī gēn nǐ xùqiān hétong le ma?)` - “Has the company renewed your contract yet?”
Leases: When your apartment rental agreement is ending, you'll need to discuss `续签租房合同 (xùqiān zūfáng hétong)` with your landlord.
Memberships and Subscriptions: It can also be used for less formal agreements like renewing a gym membership (`续签会员卡 xùqiān huìyuánkǎ`) or a phone plan.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
我的签证快到期了，我需要马上去续签。
Pinyin: Wǒ de qiānzhèng kuài dàoqī le, wǒ xūyào mǎshàng qù xùqiān.
English: My visa is about to expire, I need to go renew it immediately.
Analysis: A classic and urgent use case for any foreigner in China. `快…了 (kuài…le)` indicates the imminent expiration.
English: If you want to renew the lease, you must tell the landlord one month in advance.
Analysis: This highlights the proactive nature required for renewals in China. `租约 (zūyuē)` is a slightly more formal word for a lease than `租房合同 (zūfáng hétong)`.
English: We hope to renew next year's cooperation agreement with your esteemed company.
Analysis: This is a very formal example from a business context. `贵公司 (guì gōngsī)` is a polite way to say “your company.”
Example 9:
你续签了吗？手续麻烦吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ xùqiān le ma? Shǒuxù máfan ma?
English: Have you renewed yet? Was the procedure troublesome?
Analysis: A simple, direct question between friends or colleagues. The context (what is being renewed) is already understood.
Example 10:
别担心，续签的事情我已经帮你办好了。
Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, xùqiān de shìqing wǒ yǐjīng bāng nǐ bàn hǎo le.
English: Don't worry, I've already taken care of the renewal matter for you.
Analysis: Here, `续签的事情 (xùqiān de shìqing)` turns the action of renewing into “the matter/affair of renewing,” a common way to talk about a task.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`续签 (xùqiān)` vs. `更新 (gēngxīn)` vs. `延长 (yáncháng)`
This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
续签 (xùqiān): Use this for things you sign to continue. Think contracts, leases, visas, and formal agreements.
更新 (gēngxīn): Means “to update” or “to make new again.” Use this for documents that expire and are replaced with a new version, but which you don't necessarily “sign a contract” for. Examples include a passport (`护照 hùzhào`), driver's license (`驾照 jiàzhào`), or software.
延长 (yáncháng): Means “to extend” or “to prolong” a period of time. You can `延长` a deadline, a meeting, or your period of stay. It focuses only on the time dimension. You might apply to `延长` your visa's duration of stay for 30 days, which is a simpler process than a full `续签` for a new one-year visa.
Common Mistake Example:
Incorrect: 我的护照需要续签。 (Wǒ de hùzhào xūyào xùqiān.)
Why it's wrong: You don't “sign a contract to continue” your passport. It's a document that is issued and expires.
Correct: 我的护照需要更新。 (Wǒ de hùzhào xūyào gēngxīn.) - My passport needs to be renewed/updated.
Correct: 我的护照到期了，我需要换一本新的。 (Wǒ de hùzhào dàoqī le, wǒ xūyào huàn yī běn xīn de.) - My passport expired, I need to get a new one.
Related Terms and Concepts
`签证 (qiānzhèng)` - Visa. The most common document that foreigners need to `续签`.
`合同 (hétong)` - Contract. Especially `劳动合同 (láodòng hétong)` (labor contract) and `租房合同 (zūfáng hétong)` (rental contract).
`到期 (dàoqī)` - To expire. This is the event that triggers the need to `续签`.
`申请 (shēnqǐng)` - To apply. You must `申请续签` (apply for a renewal).
`批准 (pīzhǔn)` - To approve. The positive outcome of your `续签` application.
`拒绝 (jùjué)` - To refuse / reject. The negative outcome.
`居留许可 (jūliú xǔkě)` - Residence Permit. The long-term visa for work or study in China that must be renewed annually.
`更新 (gēngxīn)` - To update / renew. A crucial term to distinguish from `续签`, used for passports, licenses, etc.
`延长 (yáncháng)` - To extend / prolong. A related concept focusing on extending a time period rather than renewing a whole contract.
`手续 (shǒuxù)` - Procedures / formalities. The paperwork and steps involved in the `续签` process.