信封 (xìn fēng) — envelope | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Concrete everyday word for an envelope (个). 函 is its formal/written counterpart, more common in official or literary contexts.

noun

envelope

Measure word · 个

Examples

信封。
Wǒ xū yào yí gè xìn fēng jì xìn.
I need an envelope to mail a letter.
信封。
Tā bǎ xìn fàng jìn xìn fēng lǐ.
He put the letter into the envelope.
信封。
Wǒ cóng péng you nà lǐ shōu dào yí gè xìn fēng.
I received an envelope from a friend.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

The ideas of 信 (letter) and 封 (cover) combine to mean a letter cover, an envelope.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánwords

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

人rén信xìn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

寸寸cùnhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

丰

丰fēng封fēng

Same sound today

The shape 封 is 丰 plus 土 (earth) plus 寸 (hand); 丰 was originally drawn as a tree seedling.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Mail & Messaging

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