印章
yìn zhāng · HSK 7
seal
印 imprint + 章 badge = a stamped seal or chop
印 means to imprint or stamp; 章 means a badge, mark, or chapter. Together 印章 is the carved chop pressed in red ink to mark documents as official.
印 — hand 爪 (claw) + kneeling person 卩
Originally a pictograph showing a hand pressing down on a kneeling figure, depicting the act of stamping or sealing. The meaning extended from 'to press a seal' to the seal itself, and then to 'print' or 'imprint' in modern usage.
章 — 立 stand + 早 early; or 音 sound + 十 ten
Originally depicted a complete musical composition, analyzed as 音 (sound) plus 十 (ten, marking completion). From 'finished melody' it extended to 'a chapter, section, or composition,' then to 'pattern, rules, or insignia.' Modern uses include chapters in books and official seals.