背书

背書

bèishū

verb #39,744

Meanings

1 to endorse (a check, product, candidate)
2 to recite from memory
3 endorsement

Characters

back / to recite

book / document

Examples

请在支票背面背书。

Qǐng zài zhīpiào bèimiàn bèishū.

Please endorse the back of the check.

小时候老师要我们每天背书。

Xiǎoshíhou lǎoshī yào wǒmen měi tiān bèishū.

As kids, our teacher made us recite texts from memory every day.

Tips

usage

Two unrelated meanings sharing 背 (back). (1) Financial: to sign the BACK of a negotiable instrument — matches English 'endorse' perfectly, where 'dorsum' = back. (2) Educational: to recite with your BACK to the book. Context disambiguates. Extended metaphorical sense 'to endorse a person/product' is now common in media.

Stroke Order

背 bēi

书 shū