包み

• Reading: つつみ
• Romaji: tsutsumi
• Kanji breakdown: 包 (hou/tsutsu) — wrap, bundle
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.tsɯ.mi/

Meaning

Bundle; package; parcel. Something wrapped up or bundled together.

A noun form of the verb 包む (tsutsumu, to wrap). Refers to wrapped items, packages, or parcels. Used in daily life for gift wrapping and postal packages. The wrapping culture (包装, housou) is very important in Japan, making this word common in shopping and gift-giving contexts.

Examples

1. 母から大きな包みが届いた。 A big package arrived from my mother.
2. 机の上に紙の包みが置いてあった。 There was a paper-wrapped parcel sitting on the desk.
3. お土産を風呂敷で包みにして持って行った。 I wrapped the souvenirs in a furoshiki cloth and brought them along.

Usage Guide

Context: gifts, mail, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Noun form of 包む. The kanji 包 depicts a person (巳) wrapped inside a covering (勹), directly representing the act of enclosing something.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal