封
to confer; boundary
At a glance · 封
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
甲骨文象在土堆上植树以标志疆界，会意划定田界。小篆作从土从寸（手持）从木，隶楷沿为「封」。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
「封」本指聚土植树定界，《周礼》掌封疆之事。
Structure
从土、从木、从寸，会培土植树、以手划定疆界之意。
At a glance
Pinyinfēng
Radical寸
Strokes9
UnicodeU+5C01
Character type会意
Theme政事
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
to confer; boundary
To grant (a title, land) or mark a boundary; originally heaping earth and planting trees to delimit land.
Français
conférer; frontière
Conférer un titre ou délimiter une frontière; à l'origine, élever de la terre et planter des arbres pour marquer un territoire.
Español
conferir; frontera
Otorgar un título o delimitar una frontera; originalmente amontonar tierra y plantar árboles para marcar el terreno.
العربية
منح؛ حدود
يمنح لقبًا أو أرضًا أو يحدّد حدودًا؛ كان يُرمز له بجمع التراب وغرس الأشجار.
Русский
жаловать; граница
Жаловать (титул, землю) или обозначать границу; изначально — насыпать землю и сажать деревья для разметки.
Common words
- 封闭fēng bìseal
- 封fēngconfer