認印(みとめいん)

みとめいん
noun
personal seal; everyday seal
businesstoolbusiness
1. personal seal; everyday seal; unregistered seal
A personal seal used for everyday purposes like receiving packages, signing for deliveries, or routine paperwork. Unlike the registered seal (jitsuin), it is not officially registered with the government.
宅配(たくはい)の受(う)け取(と)りは認印(みとめいん)で大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)です。
A personal seal is fine for receiving deliveries.
認印(みとめいん)は100円(えん)ショップでも買(か)えます。
You can buy a personal seal even at a 100-yen shop.
この書類(しょるい)は認印(みとめいん)でいいですか、実印(じついん)が必要(ひつよう)ですか。
Is a personal seal okay for this document, or do I need a registered seal?

Etymology

認(みと)める (to acknowledge) + 印(いん) (seal)

Also read as にんいん in formal contexts.

Characteristics

  • Not registered with the government
  • Inexpensive (can be mass-produced)
  • Used for everyday, low-stakes documents
  • Often just shows the family name (苗字(みょうじ))

Common collocations

Seal hierarchy

1. 認印(みとめいん) - everyday use, not registered
2. 銀行印(ぎんこういん) - bank seal (registered with bank)
3. 実印(じついん) - registered seal (with 印鑑登録(いんかんとうろく))

Similar words

認印(みとめいん) is casual/everyday while 実印(じついん) is official/legal.

Related Words

Compare: 実印(じついん) (registered seal)
Related: 押印(おういん) (affixing a seal)
Related: 認(みと)める (to recognize, to admit)
Related: シャチハタ (self-inking stamp)
Related: 印鑑証明(いんかんしょうめい) (certificate of seal registration)
Compare: 公印(こういん) (official seal)
Compare: 銀行印(ぎんこういん) (bank seal (a personal seal registered with one's bank))
general
Added 2026.1.20 14:43 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07489_mitomein