布 often refers to cloth, but it also appears in words for everyday objects and distribution. Learn each reading with its whole word.
The idea
布 has five strokes. Follow the linked diagram to write it. On its own 布 is ぬの; in 財布, 毛布 and 配布 it is ふ. 昆布 is read こんぶ.
Examples
- 布で袋を作りました。I made a bag from cloth.
- 白い布で机を拭きます。I wipe the desk with a white cloth.
- 財布を家に忘れました。I left my wallet at home.
- 毛布をかけて寝ます。I sleep under a blanket.
- 駅前でチラシを配布しています。They are handing out flyers in front of the station.
- 昆布でだしを取ります。I make stock with kombu.
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
布 means cloth in general, not specifically linen. Linen is 麻布（あさぬの）; 財布 means wallet, not cloth. Do not assume every compound uses the same sound.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 布 in hiragana.
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ぬの
布 is ぬの: 布で袋を作りました means “I made a bag from cloth.”
Write the reading of 財布 in hiragana.
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さいふ
財布 is さいふ, a wallet. Learn the reading as a whole word.
Choose the missing kanji: 毛＿（もうふ）［布／巾］.
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布
布 completes 毛布（もうふ）, meaning blanket; 巾 would not spell this word.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 布 in hiragana.
Write the reading of 財布 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: 毛＿（もうふ）［布／巾］.
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 布 in stroke order, cover the examples and read 財布 and 毛布 aloud. Then make a sentence with 布.