Translation guide
The English word "seal" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: the animal, an official stamp or its impression, a closure or fastener, and the verb meaning to close tightly.
Referring to the marine mammal.
The standard word for seal (the animal).
アザラシが岩の上で寝ている。
A seal is sleeping on the rock.
Kanji form of アザラシ, used mainly in written or formal contexts.
海豹は北極にも生息している。
Seals also inhabit the Arctic.
A device for making an impression; the impression itself, especially for authentication.
General term for a personal or official seal used in place of a signature in Japan. Refers to both the physical stamp and the impression.
契約書に印鑑を押してください。
Please stamp your seal on the contract.
Common, slightly informal word for a personal seal or stamp. Often used for everyday purposes like acknowledging documents.
Formal term for a seal or stamp, often used in official or artistic contexts.
A seal used to close something securely, like a wax seal or a sticker seal on an envelope. Also used metaphorically.
Loanword from English, used for stickers, labels, or decorative seals. Not for official stamps.
Something that tightly closes a container or opening.
Noun meaning airtight seal or hermetic closure. Often used in compounds or as 〜する verb.
この容器は密封できます。
This container can be sealed airtight.
Gasket or packing; a rubber or plastic ring that creates a seal in lids, pipes, etc.
Suffix or prefix meaning sealed or closed, as in 封筒 (envelope) or 封をする (to seal).
瓶の封を切る。
Break the seal of the bottle.
To fasten or close securely to prevent air, liquid, etc. from entering or escaping.
To seal airtight; the most direct equivalent for sealing containers or packages.
食品を密封して保存する。
Seal food and store it.
To seal (an envelope, a container) by closing it, often with glue or a sticker.
手紙の封をしてポストに入れた。
I sealed the letter and put it in the mailbox.
General verb for closing something, but can imply sealing when context is clear.
To seal with an official or ceremonial seal; also used metaphorically (e.g., seal a fate).
証拠品を封印する。
Seal the evidence.
印鑑 is the broadest term for a personal seal, often used in official contexts. 判子 is more casual and commonly used in daily life. 印章 is formal and may refer to artistic or historical seals.
シール means sticker or decorative seal. Using it for an official personal seal (印鑑/判子) would be incorrect and confusing.
In Japan, personal seals (印鑑/判子) are used instead of signatures on many official documents. The verb for stamping is 押す (おす).
この書類に判子をもらえますか？
Can I get your stamp on this document?
この印章は江戸時代のものです。
This seal is from the Edo period.
封筒に封印をする。
Seal the envelope.
I put a sticker/seal on the letter.
パッキンが劣化しているので交換が必要です。
The seal (gasket) has deteriorated, so it needs to be replaced.
Please seal the bag tightly.