打印

• Pinyin: dǎ yìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 打 = 扌 (hand) + 丁 (nail) — to do, to strike; 印 = a hand pressing a seal — to stamp, to print

Meaning

To print. Refers to printing documents, photos, or other materials using a printer.

Standard modern term for printing with a machine. 打印机 is a printer. 复印 means to photocopy. In older or more literary usage, 印刷 refers to publishing or press printing.

Examples

1. 请帮我打印三份这个文件。 Please print three copies of this document for me.
2. 打印机没纸了，需要加纸。 The printer is out of paper — it needs more.
3. 这篇文章太长了，不用全部打印。 This article is too long — you don't need to print all of it.

Usage Guide

Context: office, school, documents

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 帮我打印一下这份报告。(Please print this report for me.)
• 你能打印彩色的吗？(Can you print in colour?)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆打印和复印 — 打印 means to print from a computer, while 复印 means to photocopy an existing document.

Origin & History

Compound of 打 (to strike, to do) and 印 (to stamp, to print). 印 originally depicted a hand pressing down on a seal to make an impression.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal