6 ways to use 印象 in Chinese

印象 is usually translated as 'impression', and it can be used in quite a wide variety of ways:

"印象" 一词常被译为"impression"，有以下多种用法。

to have an impression of something 对某物有印象

to give someone an impression 给某人留下印象

to be impressive 印象深刻

to fail to realise or remember 未意识到或未记起

to have a stereotype 刻板印象

impressionism 印象派

Here's a list of common 印象 structures and uses. Note that 印象 is not 'impression' in the sense ' imitation'; that's 滑稽模仿.

以下列出了"印象" 一词的常见句型与用法。这里，印象并不像"impression" 含有"imitation" (滑稽模仿) 的意思。

对 [noun] 的印象

对【名词】的印象

This is a very common 印象 structure. It's the easiest way to express your impression of something or someone. A basic sentence pattern is:

这是关于"印象"的一个非常常见的句型，是表达对某物或某人的印象的最简单方法。基本句型为：

[noun A] 对 [noun B] 的印象是…

【名词A】对【名词B】的印象是……

Meaning something like "A's impression of B is…"

意思为"A's impression of B is…"

Examples:

例句：

Nǐ duì Zhōngguó de yìnxiàng shì shénme

你对中国的印象是什么？ 

What's your impression of China?

Wǒ duì měiguó de yìnxiàng tǐnghǎode

我对美国的印象挺好的。

My impression of America is very good.

Nǐ duì tā de yìnxiàng zěnmeyàng

你对他的印象怎么样？ 

How's your impression of that person?

Wǒ duì zhège zhèngfǔ de yìnxiàng shì, tāmen xūyào qiáng yìdiǎnr de jīngjìzhèngcè, yàobùrán jiānglái huì yù dào hěn dà de wèntí

我对这个政府的印象是，他们需要强一点儿的经济政策，要不然将来会遇到很大的问题。

My impression of this government is that they need a more forceful economic policy, otherwise they'll encounter large problems in the future.

Wǒ duì nà tiān de yìnxiàng hěn shēnkè

我对那天的印象很深刻。

That day left a deep impression on me. Lit: "My impression of that day is deep."

[noun A] 给 [noun B] 留下 [adj] 的印象

【名词A】给【名词B】留下【形容词】的印象

This structure can be used to say things like 'He left a good impression on them' or 'You've given me a good impression'.

这个句型可以用来表达诸如这样的意思"He left a good impression on them"（他给他们留下了一个好印象）或者"You've given me a good impression" （你给我留下了一个好印象）。

Examples:

例句：

Nà jiā fànguǎn er de fúwùyuán gěi wǒmen liúxià hěn hǎo de yìnxiàng

那家饭馆儿的服务员给我们留下很好的印象。

The staff in that restaurant gave us a very good impression.

Nà ge méiyǒu lǐmào de rén gěi wǒ liúxià hěn huài de yìnxiàng le

那个没有礼貌的人给我留下很坏的印象了。

That impolite person left a bad impression on me.

Nǐ shuō dehuà gěi wǒ liúxià le hěn shēnkèyìnxiàng

你说的话给我留下了很深刻的印象。

What you said left a deep impression on me.

深刻印象

This phrase is often translated as 'a deep impression', but it can also cover the meaning of 'impressive'. It can be used in any of the structures listed above.

这个词组经常被译为"a deep impression"，但是也可以涵盖"impressive" 的意思，并可以用于以上任何一个句型。

Examples:

例句：

Wǒ duì tā yǒu hěn shēnkè de yìnxiàng

我对她有很深刻的印象。

I find her very impressive.

Nǐ de jiǎn lì gěi wǒ liúxià le hěn shēnkè de yìnxiàng

你的简历给我留下了很深刻的印象。

Your CV has really impressed me.

没有印象

You sometimes see 印象 used to express that someone didn't realise something, or forgot about it. This is phrased '没有印象' – 'to not have an impression'.

有时候，你会发现"印象" 用于表达某人未意识到某物或者忘记了什么，称为"没有印象"， 意思是"to not have an impression".

Example:

例句：

A: Wǒmen jīntiān chūmén qù gōngyuán ne

我们今天出门去公园呢？ 

Aren't we going out to the park today? 

B: Wǒmen shuō guò yào qù gōngyuán ma? Wǒ méiyǒu yìnxiàng

我们说过要去公园吗？我没有印象。

We said we'd go to the park? I didn't realise.

Wǒ duì zhè jiàn shì wánquán méiyǒu yìnxiàng

我对这件事完全没有印象。

I had no idea about that.

刻板印象

This is literally 'inflexible impression', and means 'stereotype'.

该词组字面意思为"inflexible impression", 可以译为"stereotype".

Examples:

例句：

Nà zhǐshì gè duì fàguó rén de kèbǎn yìnxiàng

那只是个对法国人的刻板印象。

That's just a stereotype of French people.

Bù shǎo rén yǒu duì tóngzhì de kèbǎn yìnxiàng

不少人有对同志的刻板印象。

Many people have stereotypes of gay people.

印象派

印象 also crops up in words for impressionism: 印象派 and 印象主义.

"印象" 一词也出现在"印象派" 和 "印象主义" (Impressionism).

The article is translated and editted by Chinlingo. Please indicate the source for any use, reproduction or transfer. 

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