What's the difference between 記号 and しるし？


I know that 記号 is translated as 'symbol' or 'code' while しるし is 'mark' or
'sign' but I can't seem to figure out when to use the appropriate one.

地図にたくさん記号がある。

地図にたくさんしるしがある。

What's the difference between these sentences?




**記号** ("symbols") on a map typically look like this (See [List of Japanese
map symbols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_map_symbols)):

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q4deC.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q4deC.png)

We also have 数学記号 (math symbols), 星座記号 (zodiac symbols),
[錬金術記号](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%8C%AC%E9%87%91%E8%A1%93%E8%A8%98%E5%8F%B7)
(alchemical symbols) and so on. So each 記号 has been designed by someone and
has its own relatively complex meaning.

On the other hand, a **印【しるし】** ("mark") on a map is usually something like
this:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9fLp7.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9fLp7.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Omfr.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Omfr.png)

印 is just a _mark_ ; it's an indicator that tells something noteworthy is
there, but it may not convey something more complicated than "No", "Look",
"Important", etc. Common 印 Japanese people use are 矢印 (やじるし; arrow), 丸印
(まるじるし; circle), バツ印 (ばつじるし; cross), 星印 (ほしじるし; star). Its shape is often
unimportant when it's used merely as a 印.

**EDIT:** A 印 doesn't even have to be drawn on paper or a screen. A stone
dropped on the ground can [work as a
marker/印](http://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Prism+Stone).




**記号** ("symbols") on a map typically look like this (See [List of Japanese
map symbols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_map_symbols)):

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q4deC.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q4deC.png)

We also have 数学記号 (math symbols), 星座記号 (zodiac symbols),
[錬金術記号](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%8C%AC%E9%87%91%E8%A1%93%E8%A8%98%E5%8F%B7)
(alchemical symbols) and so on. So each 記号 has been designed by someone and
has its own relatively complex meaning.

On the other hand, a **印【しるし】** ("mark") on a map is usually something like
this:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9fLp7.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9fLp7.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Omfr.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Omfr.png)

印 is just a _mark_ ; it's an indicator that tells something noteworthy is
there, but it may not convey something more complicated than "No", "Look",
"Important", etc. Common 印 Japanese people use are 矢印 (やじるし; arrow), 丸印
(まるじるし; circle), バツ印 (ばつじるし; cross), 星印 (ほしじるし; star). Its shape is often
unimportant when it's used merely as a 印.

**EDIT:** A 印 doesn't even have to be drawn on paper or a screen. A stone
dropped on the ground can [work as a
marker/印](http://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Prism+Stone).

