Explore 封 through letters and packages. Learn each reading together with a complete word.

The idea

封 has 9 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. 封筒（ふうとう） means envelope, 封（ふう） a seal, 開封（かいふう） opening a sealed item, and 同封（どうふう） enclosing something with a letter.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample in context
封筒ふうとうI put the letter in an envelope.
封ふうI sealed the box with tape.
開封かいふうI opened the package that arrived.
同封どうふうI enclosed the application form and sent it.

Examples

  • 手紙てがみを封筒ふうとうに入いれました。I put the letter in an envelope.
  • 封筒ふうとうに切手きってを貼はりました。I put a stamp on the envelope.
  • 箱はこをテープで封ふうしました。I sealed the box with tape.
  • 届とどいた荷物にもつを開封かいふうしました。I opened the package that arrived.
  • 申込書もうしこみしょを同封どうふうして送おくりました。I enclosed the application form and sent it.
  • 古ふるい手紙てがみの封ふうを切きりました。I opened the sealed old letter.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

封 means sealing, but 開封 is the opposite action: opening something sealed. 同封 means putting something in with a letter, not sealing it.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 封筒 in hiragana.

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    ふうとう

    封筒 is ふうとう, an envelope for a letter. Remember the long う in both syllables.

  2. Write the reading of 開封 in hiragana.

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    かいふう

    開封 is かいふう: 開 means open, so the compound means opening a sealed item.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 同＿（どうふう）［封／開］.

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    封

    封 completes 同封（どうふう）, enclosing something with a letter.

Use it today

Write 封 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 封筒 and 開封, then make a sentence with 同封.