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拇印 (ぼいん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

拇ぼ印いん

ぼ

い

ん

Meanings

1

noun

thumbprint; thumb impression

A thumbprint used in place of a personal seal (hanko) on documents, especially when a seal is unavailable.

印いん鑑かんがないので、拇ぼ印いんで代だい用ようした。
Since I didn't have my seal, I used my thumbprint instead.

Kanji

拇thumb
印stamp, seal, mark

Similar words

指し印いん
指印 is a fingerprint used as a seal, while 拇印 specifically refers to a thumbprint.
印いん鑑かん
印鑑 is a general term for a personal seal or stamp, whereas 拇印 is a thumbprint used as a substitute.

Etymology

Compound of 拇 (bo, 'thumb') and 印 (in, 'seal' or 'mark'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is conventionally associated with the practice of using a thumbprint as a personal mark.