Translation guide
In Japan, personal seals (hanko/inkan) are used instead of signatures for official documents. This guide covers how to express the act of affixing a seal naturally in Japanese.
To describe the physical action of stamping a seal on paper or a document.
The most common and neutral way to say 'affix a seal'. 判 (han) means seal, 押す (osu) means to press/stamp.
書類に判を押してください。
Please affix your seal to the document.
印鑑 (inkan) specifically refers to a registered seal, often used for more formal contexts.
契約書に印鑑を押す。
Affix a seal to the contract.
Formal, written term for 'affixing a seal', often used in legal or business documents.
こちらに捺印してください。
Please affix your seal here.
Giving directions or asking someone to stamp a document.
Polite request to stamp here. ここに means 'here'.
この書類のここに判を押してください。
Please affix your seal here on this document.
Literally 'seal please', used when requesting someone to bring and use their seal.
お手数ですが、印鑑をお願いします。
Sorry for the trouble, but please use your seal.
Stating that a seal has been affixed to something.
Indicates the state of having a seal affixed. ～てある shows a resultant state.
この書類にはもう判が押してあります。
This document already has a seal affixed.
Formal term meaning 'seal affixed' or 'stamped', often seen on forms.
捺印済みの書類を提出してください。
Please submit the document with the seal affixed.
In Japan, there are different types of seals: 認印 (mitome-in) for everyday use, 実印 (jitsu-in) registered at city hall for important contracts, and 銀行印 (ginkō-in) for bank transactions. The verb used is usually 押す regardless of type.
Do not directly translate 'affixing a seal' as 封印する (fūin suru), which means 'to seal up' or 'to close with a seal', not the act of stamping.