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印子 (yìn zǐ) — mark, trace, impression (physical); (historical) usury, high-interest loan; traditional lending practice with seal markings

Definition

Two distinct meanings: a physical mark or trace left on a surface, and (historically) 印子钱 — a high-interest loan using sealed IOUs. In modern usage the usury sense is archaic.

noun
marktraceimpression (physical)(historical) usuryhigh-interest loantraditional lending practice with seal markings
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 印子。
    Yī fu shàng liú xià le hàn shuǐ de yìn zǐ.
    A sweat mark was left on the clothes.
  • 印子。
    Tā shǒu zhǐ shàng de mò shuǐ yìn zǐ hěn nán xǐ diào.
    The ink mark on his fingers was hard to wash off.
  • ，印子。
    Jiù shè huì lǐ, hěn duō rén yīn wèi jiè yìn zǐ qián ér qīng jiā dàng chǎn.
    In old society, many people lost everything from borrowing usury loans.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

印yìnmark
子zǐ

印 refers to a mark or print; with 子 it names a trace or impression.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsMoney & Currency

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