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.
Please affix your seal to the document.
印鑑 (inkan) specifically refers to a registered seal, often used for more formal contexts.
Affix a seal to the contract.
Formal, written term for 'affixing a seal', often used in legal or business documents.
Please affix your seal here.
Giving directions or asking someone to stamp a document.
Polite request to stamp here. ここに means 'here'.
Please affix your seal here on this document.
Literally 'seal please', used when requesting someone to bring and use their seal.
Stating that a seal has been affixed to something.
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.
Sorry for the trouble, but please use your seal.
Please submit the document with the seal affixed.