What is 印鑑?
印鑑 (いんかん) refers to a personal seal or stamp used in Japan to officially sign documents. It is often used instead of a handwritten signature in formal and legal contexts.
Usage and Context
印鑑 is commonly used when signing contracts, official paperwork, or banking documents. It carries legal weight and is considered a personal identifier. People usually have their own registered 印鑑, which is officially recorded at a government office.
Common Collocations
- 印鑑を押す: to stamp a seal on a document
- 印鑑登録: seal registration at a municipal office
- 印鑑証明: certificate proving the authenticity of a registered seal
Register and Formality
Using 印鑑 is formal and standard in official situations. It is not used in casual contexts. When speaking about seals in everyday conversation, people might say はんこ (hanko), which is a more casual term.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 印鑑 with はんこ. While both mean seal, 印鑑 usually refers to the official registered seal, whereas はんこ can be any stamp or seal, including decorative or informal ones. Always use 印鑑 when referring to legal or official seals.