影印本 (yǐng yìn běn) — photo-offset copy, facsimile (reproduction of a document or book)

Definition

A photocopy-style reproduction of a book or document, used in libraries and publishing to preserve rare originals. Often shortened to 影印 in titles and references.

noun
photo-offset copyfacsimile (reproduction of a document or book)
Measure word · 本

Examples

  • 影印本。
    Zhè běn gǔ jí de yǐng yìn běn fēi cháng qīng xī.
    The facsimile of this ancient book is very clear.
  • 影印本。
    Tú shū guǎn shōu cáng le yuán gǎo de yǐng yìn běn gòng dú zhě chá yuè.
    The library keeps a facsimile of the original manuscript for readers to consult.
  • 影印本。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì běn mín guó shí qī de yǐng yìn běn lái yán jiū.
    I bought a facsimile from the Republican era to study.

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.

影印photoprinting
影yǐngimage/photographic印yìnprint
偏正Modifier + head
本běncopy/book

影 refers to an image or photographic process and 印 to printing, while 本 is a copy or book, yielding a photoprinted copy.

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →

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