Translation guide
A personal seal used in Japan for official documents, contracts, and daily transactions, similar to a signature in Western countries.
The main personal seal registered with the government and used for important contracts, bank loans, and legal documents.
A seal registered at the municipal office; its impression is certified as the owner's official seal. Required for major transactions like buying property or setting up a company.
実印を押してください。
Please stamp your registered seal.
実印と印鑑証明書が必要です。
You need your registered seal and seal registration certificate.
A commonly used personal seal for daily tasks like receiving parcels, acknowledging documents at work, or informal agreements.
An unregistered seal used for everyday purposes. It does not require registration and is often used for less formal situations.
宅配便を受け取るときに認印を使います。
I use my personal seal when receiving a parcel delivery.
認印で十分です。
A regular personal seal is sufficient.
A seal specifically registered with a bank for financial transactions.
A seal registered at a bank for use on withdrawal slips, account openings, and other banking procedures.
銀行印を忘れずにお持ちください。
Please don't forget to bring your bank seal.
通帳と銀行印が必要です。
You need your passbook and bank seal.
A broad term for any personal seal, often used in contrast to company seals or official stamps.
Literally 'individual seal', used to distinguish personal seals from corporate or organizational seals.
個人印と会社印を分けて管理してください。
Please manage your personal seal and company seal separately.
A formal term for a private seal, often used in legal or official contexts.
本書に私印を押印すること。
Affix your private seal to this document.
実印 is the official registered seal used for important contracts. 認印 is an unregistered seal for daily use. 銀行印 is a seal registered specifically with a bank. Many people have all three, sometimes using the same physical seal for multiple purposes, but it's common to keep them separate for security.
実印は契約書に、認印は荷物の受け取りに使います。
Use a registered seal for contracts, and a regular seal for receiving packages.
The term 'private seal' in English might suggest a seal for personal, confidential correspondence. In Japanese, these seals function as legal signatures and are used openly on documents. Do not confuse with 'confidential' or 'secret' seals.