封 (fēng) is a Chinese character meaning “to seal”. It is written from 圭 (jade ceremonial tablet) and 寸 (cun; inch), side by side, and takes 9 strokes.
Build the character for “to seal”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
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Structure
圭 + 寸
Left–right structure
Structure from: 现代字形拆分，经 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（圭 6 画 + 寸 3 画 = 9 画；笔画 0–5 为圭，6–8 为寸）
Memory aid
The tall jade tablet 圭 stands on the left, and 寸 — a hand measuring one inch — presses in from the right. Measure the document, press it down, seal it: 封.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
9 strokes
In real words
- 信封xìn fēngenvelope封 = fēng
- 封面fēng miànfront cover (of a book or magazine)封 = fēng
Go deeper
All readings
to seal
to seal; to close up; envelope; a measure word for letters
把东西封闭起来；也指封套，并作信件的量词。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 信封xìn fēngenvelope封 = fēng
- 封面fēng miànfront cover (of a book or magazine)封 = fēng
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 封 mean?
封 (fēng) means to seal; to close up; envelope; a measure word for letters.
How do you pronounce 封?
It is pronounced fēng.
What parts is 封 made of?
圭 (jade ceremonial tablet) and 寸 (cun; inch), side by side. The recorded source is: 现代字形拆分，经 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（圭 6 画 + 寸 3 画 = 9 画；笔画 0–5 为圭，6–8 为寸）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 封 have?
9. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 封?
寸. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 封?
Common ones are 信封 and 封面. The reading of 封 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.