# Signature vs chop **URL:** \ **Category:** Living in Taiwan\ **Created:** [October 7, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506 "2020-10-07T16:22:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickRoll](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/rickroll/32/180921_2.png) [@RickRoll](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/RickRoll)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/1 "2020-10-07T16:22:58Z")
The wife went to a government office to get some process done. After presenting all the required documents and filling all the paperwork, they couldn’t finish the process because she didn’t have a chop (or stamp, whatever you prefer). She tried to argue that since she was there in person, she was planning on signing the papers, and that that should be enough, but guess what… 沒辦法! So she’d have to go back home, to take the $#&@\* chop, return back to the office, get a number, wait for her turn, then do the whole process again, just because of a piece of wood that anyone can make in a dirty corner shop and that doesn’t really proof one’s identity! How crazy is that?! How come a chop is more valid than a signature? This is Taiwan, I know, and it always have been like that, I know, 沒辦法, but does it make sense? I, for one, didn’t even knew the concept of a chop, as everything is done by signatures back home. Is it like that in other countries too? TL;DR: Are chops more valid than signatures? ---
**Author:** ![Marco](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/marco/32/179744_2.png) [@Marco](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Marco)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/2 "2020-10-07T16:23:48Z")
Yes. I run a business here and the stamp is always required. That’s just how it is. At least I don’t have to deal with my shitty fine motorskills and the stamp ensures it’s the same every time. They’re both not THAT secure. Stamps can be forged and same with signatures. But if you notice, EVERYTHING official is stamped. It wouldn’t be the same without the constant rumble of stamping in Taiwanese and Chinese banks, government offices and more. > **[Seal (East Asia) | Usage across East Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_(East_Asia)#Usage_across_East_Asia)** > > Many people in China possess a personal name seal. Artists, scholars, collectors and intellectuals may possess a full set of name seals, leisure seals, and studio seals. A well-made seal made from semi-precious stones can cost between 400 and 4000 yuan (about 60 to 600 United States dollars in 2021). > Seals are still used for official purposes in a number of contexts. When collecting parcels or registered post, the name seal serves as an identification, akin to a signature. In banks, traditionall... ---
**Author:** ![Andrew0409](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/andrew0409/32/69821_2.png) [@Andrew0409](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Andrew0409)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/3 "2020-10-07T16:38:25Z")
You need it for government things mostly. ---
**Author:** ![SuiGeneris](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/suigeneris/32/246773_2.png) [@SuiGeneris](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/SuiGeneris)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/4 "2020-10-07T17:06:33Z")
I’ve been in situations where I forgot or didn’t bring my chop. They instead accepted my fingerprint using the same red ink pad. ---
**Author:** ![RickRoll](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/rickroll/32/180921_2.png) [@RickRoll](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/RickRoll)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/5 "2020-10-08T03:27:12Z")
> [@SuiGeneris](#): > > I’ve been in situations where I forgot or didn’t bring my chop. They instead accepted my fingerprint using the same red ink pad. That makes sense. In the old country, people that can’t write their own name (believe me, there are many) also use their fingerprint as proof of identity. What surprises me is that chops are preferred over signatures, even though it’s much easier (and cheap) to get someone’s chop than their signature. ---
**Author:** ![Marco](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/marco/32/179744_2.png) [@Marco](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Marco)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 3:31am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/6 "2020-10-08T03:31:43Z")
> [@RickRoll](#): > > > [@SuiGeneris](#): > > > > I’ve been in situations where I forgot or didn’t bring my chop. They instead accepted my fingerprint using the same red ink pad. > > That makes sense. In the old country, people that can’t write their own name (believe me, there are many) also use their fingerprint as proof of identity. > What surprises me is that chops are preferred over signatures, even though it’s much easier (and cheap) to get someone’s chop than their signature. I reckon it’s just a side effect in East Asia where Chinese Characters were once the norm and signatures were probably too cumbersome to write and just remained the tradition because… why bother changing. High literacy rates are also a relatively new phenomenon here as well. A stamp just makes it faster. ---
**Author:** ![FenjaJie](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/fenjajie/32/177281_2.png) [@FenjaJie](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/FenjaJie)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 4:28am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/7 "2020-10-08T04:28:57Z")
When I opened my bank account they asked me if I wanted to use signature or chop. I choose signature, unknowing, that I had to replicate the signature every time in the exact same way. Switched to chop right then and there.😂 I don’t know if it’s less secure or not. I’m using a different chop for different purposes so if one gets lost it doesn’t affect all the others. I guess if someone is really determined to do harm they can do it regardless of which form of identification you use. ---
**Author:** ![Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Taiwan_Luthiers)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 4:44am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/8 "2020-10-08T04:44:56Z")
I hate chops because someone can steal it and use it to impersonate you (they are as valid as signature). Next time if they insist on chops on a government form offer your thumb. They are as valid as chops and can’t be stolen (well someone could chop off your thumb or whatever). ---
**Author:** ![afterspivak](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@afterspivak](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/afterspivak)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:21am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/9 "2020-10-08T05:21:23Z")
> [@Marco](#): > > I reckon it’s just a side effect in East Asia where Chinese Characters were once the norm and signatures were probably too cumbersome to write and just remained the tradition because… why bother changing. Some possible changes may be afoot in Japan. Will Taiwan follow? > **[Prepare to get rid of hanko seals, Suga tells government](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/10/07/national/hanko-seals-suga/)** > > Hanko are widely used in Japan for signing contracts, business transactions and various administrative procedures. Guy ---
**Author:** ![Marco](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/marco/32/179744_2.png) [@Marco](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Marco)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 5:27am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/10 "2020-10-08T05:27:08Z")
Not likely. ---
**Author:** ![chydals](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/chydals/32/174348_2.png) [@chydals](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/chydals)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 6:22am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/11 "2020-10-08T06:22:14Z")
Article 3 of the [Civil Code](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=B0000001) signature , seal and finger-print have all the same effect ![image](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/7/a/7a71e837104c68e60201d11a788044565e0621cf.png) however , for negotiable instruments (bill of exchange, promissory note, or check) you need a Seal Article 6 of the [Negotiable Instruments Act](https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=G0380028) ![image](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/3/4/34c301f728067b4d02bc0b0e482df764f167fc66.png) ![image](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/1/4/141f266bdeeb56792c0190bb1d585e5fb883b966.png) [圖1 書面文件要簽名、蓋章、按指印？ 資料來源：雷皓明、張學昌 / 繪圖：Yen](https://www.legis-pedia.com/article/lawABC/596) source: > **[為什麼一定要帶印章？我簽個名不行嗎？ | 賈培德 | 鳴人堂](https://opinion.udn.com/opinion/story/5783/566076)** > > 法律條文的意思很清楚，簽名才是原則，印章是例外；是印章的效力等同於簽名，而不是簽名的效力等同於印章。 > **[法律百科｜書面文件要簽名、蓋章或是按指印？使用不同方式，法律效力有差別嗎？](https://www.legis-pedia.com/article/lawABC/596)** > > 簽名與蓋章的效力相同，但有法院認為遺囑上的簽名不能用蓋章代替。如果要按指印，須兩人見證才等於簽名、蓋章。本票、發票與支票上的簽名則不能用按指印代替簽名或蓋章。 ---
**Author:** ![RickRoll](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/rickroll/32/180921_2.png) [@RickRoll](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/RickRoll)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 7:45am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/signature-vs-chop/197506/12 "2020-10-08T07:45:02Z")
That’s some good info, @chydals! Thanks for sharing!