Abstract: “Footprint”, a daily-life word, has been increasingly used in a broad range of professional fields, where there is a lag and confusion in the translation and introduction of this word to China. This paper looks into the evolution of the meaning of the word as a technical term, and analyses how technical jargons occur, spread and can be better-rendered by properly addressing cognition and communication related issues. To enhance communicability of translated technical terms, it is necessary to understand the metaphoric thinking widely existing in the generation and communication of technical jargons; to meet requirement for replication of the term as a cultural gene and to adjust translation strategies as mandated by circumstances.