印

• Pinyin: yìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 印 = 卩 (kneeling person) + 爫 (hand pressing down), depicting stamping action

Meaning

To print; to stamp; seal. To reproduce text or images by pressing, or the mark/seal made by pressing.

As a verb, refers to printing books, documents, or pressing stamps. As a noun, means a seal or stamp. Common phrases: 印刷 (printing), 盖印 (stamp a seal), 印章 (seal/stamp), 印象 (impression), 脚印 (footprint). The character has rich historical associations with official seals.

Examples

1. 这本书第一版只印了五千册，很快就卖光了。 The first edition of this book only printed five thousand copies and quickly sold out.
2. 请在这里盖印，证明你已经收到文件。 Please stamp here to confirm you have received the document.
3. 他的话深深印在了我的脑海里，一直忘不了。 His words were deeply imprinted in my mind; I could never forget them.

Usage Guide

Context: publishing, documents, administration

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 这份文件需要印几份？(How many copies of this document need to be printed?)
• 请把公章印在这里。(Please stamp the official seal here.)

Don't Say

• 我印了这个网页 — 打印网页通常说'打印'而不是'印'，印更常用于书籍和正式文件

Origin & History

Originally a pictograph depicting a hand pressing down on a kneeling person, later evolved to mean pressing a seal. Extended to all forms of printing and stamping.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal