指紋

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 指紋, read しもん, means the pattern on a fingertip or the mark it leaves on an object.
• Basic usage: It is used for wiping marks off a screen or registering a fingerprint for a device.
  • 画面についた指紋を布で拭き取った。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The extent of the print compared with 手形
  • When referring to a handprint, 手形 shows the shape of the whole hand, while 指紋 refers to the fine pattern on a fingertip.