shuǐyìn

水印

Word · Noun · Verb

watermark; water stain; woodblock print

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

4 senses · 10 examples
1.

noun

watermark; security pattern embedded in paper during manufacturing

Commonly used for banknotes, certificates, and official documents. Often pronounced with erhua as 水印儿 in spoken Northern Mandarin.

Chāo钞
piào票
shàng上
yǒu有
fáng防
wěi伪
shuǐ水
yìn印
 。

Banknotes have anti-counterfeiting watermarks.

Zhè这
zhāng张
zhèng证
shū书
de的
shuǐ水
yìn印
hěn很
qīng清
xī晰
 。

The watermark on this certificate is very clear.

Show 1 more example
Nǐ你
néng能
kàn看
dào到
zhè这
ge个
shuǐ水
yìn印
ér儿
ma吗
 ?

Can you see this little watermark?

2.

noun

water stain; mark left by water seeping into and drying on a surface

Often pronounced with erhua as 水印儿 in colloquial speech. Distinguished from 水渍 (water stain) which is more general.

Tiān天
huā花
bǎn板
shàng上
yǒu有
ge个
huáng黄
sè色
de的
shuǐ水
yìn印
 。

There is a yellowish water stain on the ceiling.

Qiáng墙
shàng上
de的
shuǐ水
yìn印
ér儿
zěn怎
me么
cā擦
bù不
diào掉
 ?

Why can't I wipe off this water stain on the wall?

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
zhāng张
zhuō桌
zi子
liú留
xià下
le了
shuǐ水
bēi杯
de的
shuǐ水
yìn印
 。

The water glass left a water ring on this table.

3.

verb

to print using traditional Chinese woodblock printing with water-based pigments

Refers specifically to the traditional Chinese water-based woodblock printing technique, distinct from oil-based color printing.

Zhè这
fú幅
nián年
huà画
shì是
yòng用
shuǐ水
yìn印
fǎ法
yìn印
zhì制
de的
 。

This New Year painting was printed using the water-based woodblock method.

Shuǐ水
yìn印
mù木
kè刻
shì是
Zhōng中
guó国
chuán传
tǒng统
yì艺
shù术
 。

Water-based woodblock printing is a traditional Chinese art form.

4.

noun

official seal of a traditional shop

dialect

Regional dialect usage, primarily in Northern Chinese. Often pronounced with erhua as 水印儿. Refers to the official stamp used by traditional businesses for authentication.

Zhè这
shì是
lǎo老
zì字
hào号
de的
shuǐ水
yìn印
 。

This is the official seal of an old established shop.

Jiù旧
shí时
shāng商
diàn店
de的
wén文
jiàn件
yào要
gài盖
shuǐ水
yìn印
ér儿
cái才
yǒu有
xiào效
 。

In the past, shop documents had to be stamped with the official seal to be valid.