印鑑

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 印鑑 is read as いんかん and is a noun for a personal seal or stamp used on documents to identify a party.
• Basic usage: Using the seal appears in 印鑑を押す, while its placement appears in 印鑑を押す場所.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Seal and impression
  • 印鑑 denotes the physical seal used for stamping, not the mark left on the paper.
• Difference from 印影
  • 印影 is the impression produced by stamping, while 印鑑 is the tool that produces it.