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道Nihongo Path
印

印·mark, seal, print, sign

On-yomi
イン
Kun-yomi
しるし

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

6 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
印象いんしょうimpression
印鑑いんかんpersonal seal, stamp
印しるしmark, sign
目印めじるしlandmark, marker

Example sentences

  1. 彼の第一印象はとてもよかった。

    かれのだいいちいんしょうはとてもよかった。

    My first impression of him was very good.

  2. ここに印鑑を押してください。

    ここにいんかんをおしてください。

    Please stamp your seal here.

  3. 赤い屋根の家を目印にしてください。

    あかいやねのいえをめじるしにしてください。

    Use the house with the red roof as a landmark.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 印 alone as いん when the noun 'a mark' is meant — that is しるし
  • Confusing 印鑑 (the physical seal) with 判子 (はんこ), its everyday spoken name

Memory aid

Picture it

A hand pressing down on a kneeling figure — a stamp pushed onto paper leaving its mark.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 印 mean?