封筒

• Reading: ふうとう
• Romaji: fuutou
• Kanji breakdown: 封 (fuu/hou) — seal, enclose; 筒 (tou/tsutsu) — tube, cylinder
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯː.toː/

Meaning

Envelope. A flat paper container used for enclosing letters and documents.

Japanese envelopes come in many types: standard white envelopes for letters, special envelopes for money gifts at weddings (祝儀袋), and condolence envelopes (香典袋). Addressing Japanese envelopes follows specific rules, with the recipient's name written larger and the sender's smaller.

Examples

1. 手紙を封筒に入れました。 I put the letter in an envelope.
2. 白い封筒をください。 Please give me a white envelope.
3. 封筒に住所を書いてください。 Please write the address on the envelope.

Usage Guide

Context: post office, mail, office

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 封 (fuu, seal/enclose) + 筒 (tou, tube/cylinder). Literally 'sealed tube,' describing the act of enclosing a letter inside.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal