seal · mark

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 印 means a seal or mark; its on-reading is いん and its kun-reading is しるし.
• Basic usage: 印刷 refers to printing; the standalone 印 can mean a mark or token.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Visible mark and symbolic token
  • 赤い印 is a red mark showing where a correction is needed. 友情の印 is a token of friendship and focuses on an object's significance.
• Action and resulting state
  • 印刷した describes the act of printing, while 印刷されている describes being in a printed state.