封

fēng

圭 + 寸

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

fēng (verb) to seal; to close up

fēng (verb) to confer; to bestow a title

fēng (particle) measure word for letters (i.e.: the written correspondence variety)

Etymology

Depicts using hands (寸) to cultivate plants (丰). Based on the original meaning "create a boundary with plants". The meaning later shifted to "divide off", "seal", and "letter".

About

封 combines a plant component (originally 丰, a sprouting plant) with the hand radical 寸, depicting hands cultivating plants to establish a boundary. This ancient practice of planting trees on earthen mounds to mark the perimeter of a granted territory gave the character its original meaning: creating a border with vegetation. The notion of demarcation extended to the conferral of titles and fiefs, then to closing off an area. Over time, the meaning shifted to dividing off, sealing something shut (as with an envelope), and eventually to a letter itself.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我收到一封信。

Wǒ shōu dào yī fēng xìn.

I received a letter.

他把信封好了。

Tā bǎ xìn fēng hǎo le.

He sealed the envelope.

这个瓶子是密封的。

Zhège píngzi shì mìfēng de.

This bottle is sealed.

学校因为疫情封闭了。

Xuéxiào yīnwèi yìqíng fēngbì le.

The school was closed due to the pandemic.

封建制度在古代很普遍。

Fēngjiàn zhìdù zài gǔdài hěn pǔbiàn.

The feudal system was common in ancient times.

政府决定封锁那个区域。

Zhèngfǔ juédìng fēngsuǒ nàgè qūyù.

The government decided to blockade that area.

这封邮件非常重要，请及时回复。

Zhè fēng yóujiàn fēicháng zhòngyào, qǐng jíshí huífù.

This email is very important, please reply promptly.

由于技术问题，网络端口被临时封闭。

Yóuyú jìshù wèntí, wǎngluò duānkǒu bèi línshí fēngbì.

Due to technical issues, the network port was temporarily closed.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 圭

Component: 寸

Example Words