Japanese word

はんこ

Pronunciation

Romajihanko

Meaning

  • nounseal

Example

これは私のはんこです。ko re wa watashi no ha n ko de su

This is my seal.

Illustration for はんこ (seal)

More examples

この申込書にははんこを押してください。ko no mōshi komi sho ni wa ha n ko o o shi te ku da sa i

Please stamp this application form.

Core concept

It is a reusable physical tool whose pressed mark identifies a person or organization on a document.

Common phrases

  • はんこを押すha n ko o o su

    stamp with a seal

  • はんこを作るha n ko o tsuku ru

    make a personal seal

Similar words

印鑑inkan: A seal used to leave a person's or organization's identifying mark, especially in official paperwork.
印shirushi: A seal or its identifying mark used on a document or object.
スタンプsutanpu: A tool that leaves a repeated design, message, or mark with ink, often for office work or decoration.

Definition in Japanese

個人や団体の名義を示すため、紙などに押し付けて使う印。ko jin ya dan tai no mei gi o shime su ta me kami na do ni o shi tsu ke te tsuka u shirushi

Word origin

はんこ (hanko) is a colloquial term often represented by 判子 (hanko), from 判 (han, "seal or mark") and 子 (ko), a nominal suffix.

Usage tips

  • Japanese paperwork distinguishes the everyday word はんこ (hanko) from 実印 (jitsu'in, "registered seal"), so translating every はんこ as registered seal loses an important detail.

Other meanings

  • stampnoun

Word lists with this word