TongTong
Sign in

水印 (shuǐ yìn) — watermark (in paper or digital media); store seal, company chop (impression mark used by a business)

Definition

水印 covers two senses: a printed or digital 'watermark' embedded in paper, currency, or files, and a 'store seal / company chop' stamped on documents. Both are identifying marks — invisible or visible — used to prove authenticity or origin.

noun
watermark (in paper or digital media)store sealcompany chop (impression mark used by a business)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 水印。
    Zhè zhāng chāo piào shàng de shuǐ yìn fēi cháng qīng xī.
    The watermark on this banknote is very clear.
  • PDF水印。
    PDF wén jiàn kě yǐ jiā shàng shù zì shuǐ yìn fáng zhǐ dào bǎn.
    PDF files can add a digital watermark to prevent piracy.
  • 水印。
    Lǎo diàn de fā piào shàng dōu gài zhe zì jiā shuǐ yìn.
    The invoices from the old shop all bear their own store seal.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

水shuǐwater
印yìnmark; seal

水 is water and 印 is a mark or seal, so the word means a water-like mark embedded in paper.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 爪爪zhuǎhand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

印 pairs 爪 (hand) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on a kneeling person.

Open 印 →
Appears in
Miscellaneous Objects

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.