noun
A physical object believed to bring luck or protection, often from a shrine or temple. Common in compounds like お守り符.
彼は財布に小さな符を入れている。
He keeps a small charm in his wallet.
noun
A physical token used for counting or record-keeping, such as a tally stick or a marker in games. Often seen in historical or game contexts.
昔は符を使って数を数えた。
In the past, people used tallies to count numbers.
noun
A written mark or note, often used in formal or literary contexts. Can refer to a seal, a check mark, or a brief annotation.
書類に符を付けておいた。
I put a mark on the document.
counter
In mahjong, a unit used in calculating a hand's score. This is a specialized term.
この手は30符だ。
This hand is 30 fu.
札 is a more common word for a physical tag, label, or card, while 符 is often more abstract or specialized.
護符 specifically means a protective charm or amulet, often with religious connotations, and is a compound using 符.
The kanji 符 originally referred to a tally or token split in two for verification. Its meanings expanded to include charms, marks, and scoring units. The reading ふ is the on'yomi.