Skip to content
Kotomora

苞

husk, bract, straw wrapper, souvenir gift, bribe

Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ホウ
  • ヒョウ

Kun'yomi

  • つと

Meaning

苞 centers on wrapping or enclosing something, especially in a plant or gift context: a husk or bract that wraps a plant part, a straw wrapper, or a wrapped souvenir gift. The bribe sense extends from the idea of a gift given in a wrapped, concealed manner.

Most common words using 苞

  • 苞つと

    straw-wrapped item; bundle of straw (containing a food item, etc.)

  • 苞ほう

    bract

  • 総苞そうほう

    involucre; involucrum

  • 総苞片そうほうへん

    involucral scale

  • 苞葉ほうよう

    bract

  • 藁苞わらすぼ

    Odontamblyopus lacepedii (species of eel goby)

  • 藁苞わらづと

    straw wrapper

Explore all words using 苞 →

Study

Etymology

苞 combines 艹 (grass/plant) with 包 (wrap/enclose), suggesting a plant part that wraps or is wrapped. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component relationship is clear.

Meaning mnemonic

Grass 艹 wrapped 包 around something: think of a husk or straw wrapper enclosing a gift or plant part. The wrapped gift can also hint at a concealed bribe.

Reading mnemonic

For ホウ, imagine wrapping a gift in a straw wrapper and exclaiming 'Hope you like it!' as you hand it over: Hope -> ホウ.