印 meaning and stroke order
To print; to mark; to engrave
How to write 印, stroke by stroke
5 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Meaning of 印
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to print
- to mark
- to engrave
- a seal
- a print
- a stamp
How 印 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hand 爪 stamping a seal 卩.
Radical: 卩 (seal), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 印
The etymology hint says 印 shows a hand 爪 pressing down a seal 卩. Picture the left side as a hand gripping a stamp and the right side 卩 as the seal being pressed onto paper to leave a mark.
印 (yìn) means a mark left by pressing, so it covers stamps, seals, printing, and even footprints and impressions in the mind. It usually appears in compounds like 打印 (dǎyìn), 复印 (fùyìn), and 印象 (yìnxiàng). Example: 我对他的印象很好。(Wǒ duì tā de yìnxiàng hěn hǎo.) I have a good impression of him.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 印 with 卯 (mǎo), which has a mirrored shape on the left, or with 叩 (kòu). Remember that the left part of 印 is a hand shape, not a box or a mirror of 卩.
Common words with 印
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 打印 | dǎyìn | to affix a seal; to stamp | HSK 2 |
| 印象 | yìnxiàng | impression (sth that stays in one's mind); a memory | HSK 3 |
| 复印 | fùyìn | to photocopy; to duplicate a document | HSK 3 |
| 印刷 | yìnshuā | to print; printing | HSK 5 |
| 脚印 | jiǎoyìn | footprint | HSK 6 |
| 打印机 | dǎyìnjī | printer | HSK 6 |
| 印章 | yìnzhāng | seal; signet | HSK 7-9 |
| 印证 | yìnzhèng | to confirm; to corroborate; to verify; proof; evidence | HSK 7-9 |
| 印刷术 | yìnshuāshù | printing; printing technology | HSK 7-9 |
| 封印 | fēngyìn | seal (on envelopes) | |
| 印记 | yìnjì | imprint; trace | |
| 烙印 | làoyìn | to brand (cattle etc); brand | |
| 复印件 | fùyìnjiàn | photocopy; duplicate | |
| 影印 | yǐngyìn | photographic reproduction; photocopying |
印 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 印
How many strokes are in 印?
印 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 印 mean?
印 (yìn) means to print; to mark; to engrave. A common word with it is 打印 (dǎyìn), meaning "to affix a seal; to stamp".
How do you pronounce 印?
印 is pronounced yìn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 印?
The radical of 印 is 卩, which carries the idea of "seal". Dictionaries list 印 under this radical.
Is 印 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 印 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 打印 and 复印?
打印 (dǎyìn) usually means printing from a computer with a printer, 打印机 (dǎyìnjī). 复印 (fùyìn) means making a photocopy of a paper document that already exists.
Can 印 be used on its own as a verb?
Yes. You can say 印一份 (yìn yí fèn) to mean print one copy. In everyday speech, though, compounds like 打印 are more common.