Explore 筒 in everyday containers and learn its readings in complete words.
The idea
筒 has 12 strokes; follow the linked diagram. It is read つつ as a word, and とう in compounds such as 封筒（ふうとう） and 水筒（すいとう）. 筒状（つつじょう） means cylindrical.
Examples
- 手紙を封筒に入れました。I put the letter in an envelope.
- 水筒を持ってきてください。Please bring a water bottle.
- 筒の中にポスターがあります。There is a poster in the tube.
- 紙を筒状に丸めました。I rolled the paper into a cylindrical shape.
- 封筒に住所を書きました。I wrote the address on the envelope.
- 水筒は机の上にあります。The water bottle is on the desk.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not assume every 筒 is read とう: 筒状 uses つつ. 封筒 is an envelope, not just any tube.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 封筒 in hiragana.
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ふうとう
封筒 is ふうとう: the compound means an envelope.
Write the reading of 水筒 in hiragana.
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すいとう
水筒 is すいとう: it means a water bottle.
Choose the missing kanji: 封＿（ふうとう）［筒／同］.
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筒
筒 completes 封筒（ふうとう）, an envelope; 同 is a different character.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 封筒 in hiragana.
Write the reading of 水筒 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: 封＿（ふうとう）［筒／同］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 筒 following the diagram. Cover the readings and read 封筒 and 水筒, then describe a cylindrical object.