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印记 (yìn jì) — (noun) a seal, stamp, or physical imprint; (noun) a lasting impression or mark (abstract)

Definition

Two senses share one word: a physical mark, stamp, or imprint left on a surface, and a lasting impression left in the mind. In the abstract sense, 印象 emphasizes the mental image itself, while 印记 stresses the deep, lasting trace it leaves behind.

noun
a sealstampor physical imprinta lasting impression or mark (abstract)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 印记。
    Zhè fèn wén jiàn shàng yǒu yí gè hóng sè de yìn jì.
    There is a red stamp on this document.
  • 印记。
    Nà cì jīng lì zài wǒ xīn zhōng liú xià le shēn kè de yìn jì.
    That experience left a deep impression in my heart.
  • 印记。
    Gǔ shū shàng de yìn jì yǐ jīng mó hu le.
    The imprint on the ancient book has become blurred.

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.

印yìnseal; imprint
记jìmark

A 记 (mark) left by an 印 (seal or imprint).

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 記; 记 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech; words
Sound part声符shēngfú
己
己jǐ記jì
Same sound today

The traditional form 記 pairs 言 (speech; words) with 己 as a sound part; the simplified 记 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical component.

Open 记 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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