The present application discloses a method of fingerprint identification, a fingerprint identification apparatus, a fingerprint identification chip and a terminal device. The method includes: detecting a value of a light signal reflected by a finger when a touch signal of the finger is received on a fingerprint identification area; determining whether the value of the light signal is within a preset numerical range; and determining a fingerprint contacting the fingerprint identification area is a live fingerprint if the value of the light signal is within the numerical range. Therefore, when a finger presses a fingerprint identification area, it is judged that a fingerprint contacting the fingerprint identification area is a live fingerprint or a non-live fingerprint through a value of a light signal reflected by the finger, thereby improving security of a fingerprint password.