How do you say "envelope" in Japanese?

封筒

fūtō

Noun Kanji

In Japanese, "envelope" is 封筒 (fūtō).

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Pronunciation

封筒 is written using kanji. Romanised as fūtō, it sounds roughly like "foo-toh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Futo uses 封 (seal) and 筒 (tube/cylinder). The image of sealing a tube-like container captures the envelope's function.

Example sentence

新しい封筒を買いました。

Atarashii Fūtō wo kaimashita.

I bought a new envelope.

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How to remember 封筒

Sealed tube. Picture sealing a letter inside a cylindrical envelope.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more office words.

Questions about 封筒

How do you pronounce 封筒?

封筒 is romanised as fūtō. Say it roughly like "foo-toh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 封筒 formal or casual?

封筒 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 封筒 written in Japanese?

封筒 is written using kanji. Futo uses 封 (seal) and 筒 (tube/cylinder).

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Envelope" in other languages

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