影印 (yǐng yìn) — (v.) to photocopy; to reproduce by photo-offset; (n.) a photocopy; a photo-offset reproduction

Definition

A formal/literary term meaning 'to photocopy' (verb) or 'a photocopy' (noun), typically used for reproducing books and documents. Closer to 'photo-offset reproduction' than casual 复印 (everyday photocopying).

(v.) to photocopyto reproduce by photo-offset(n.) a photocopya photo-offset reproduction
Measure word · 份

Examples

  • 影印，。
    Zhè běn gǔ jí shì yǐng yìn de, bú shì yuán bǎn.
    This ancient book is a photocopy, not the original.
  • 影印。
    Qǐng nǐ bǎ zhè fèn wén jiàn yǐng yìn sān fèn.
    Please make three photocopies of this document.
  • 影印，。
    Tú shū guǎn tí gōng yǐng yìn fú wù, měi yè liǎng máo qián.
    The library offers photocopying services at twenty cents per page.

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.

影yǐngimage
印yìnprint

影 gives the image to be reproduced, while 印 gives the act of printing.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
景
景jǐng影yǐng
Same sound today

影 pairs 景, which gives the sound and also carries the idea of image, with 彡, the part that points to shadow.

Open 影 →

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 →

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