stamp

Question

In Asian countries, people have their own stamp. Their name, usually chinese character, was engraved on the stamp.
This stamp is using as a signature of a person when they make a bank account, make a contract and so on.

Is it common to use the word, stamp? or seal?

"Do you have your stamp with you?" or "Do you have a seal with you?"

How to explain about stamp with a few words to western people or commonly?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Both are used. It's usually a matter of custom, so if the current Asian custom is different than the current western custom, whoever first translates it wins. That is, you'd have to ask how members of the Asian community in English-speaking countries commonly say it when speaking English.

Kings and members of the aristocracy had "seals" back in Elizabethan times so that documents sent by messenger could be authenticated. (Perhaps they had forgers too!)

These days seals are used to authenticate "original copies" of official documents, such as birth certificates. This is usually done in a contrasting ink color, to avoid duplication.

The secretary of a corporation usually has a seal which "embosses" the image on documents. That is, rather than using ink, it shapes the image in relief onto the paper.

Notary publics use an ink type seal, but most of them refer to it as "their stamp." The seal is applied by means of a rubber stamp, like any other. "Stamp/seal" refers to the device as well as to the image which it imparts. Both terms are used for both, but I believe "stamp" is more often used for the device, and "seal" is more often used for the imprint.

In Asian countries, people often carry their own personal stamps, or seals, for signing legal documents. These are often in the form of a Chinese character. (Most westerners understand "stamp/seal.")

- A.

stamp

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