A physical object believed to bring luck or protection, often from a shrine or temple. Common in compounds like お守り符.
He keeps a small charm in his wallet.
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.
A written mark or note, often used in formal or literary contexts. Can refer to a seal, a check mark, or a brief annotation.
He marked the important section.
In the past, people used tallies to count numbers.
I put a mark on the document.
He calculates the fu for his hand.
He carries a charm to ward off bad luck.
護符 specifically denotes a religious protective charm, while 符 is a broader, more abstract term that can also mean a tally, mark, or scoring unit.
札 is the everyday word for a physical tag, label, or card, whereas 符 is a more literary or specialized term for a mark, token, or charm.
記号 is the common modern word for a written symbol or mark, while 符 is a more classical or formal term used in the same sense.
符 and 譜 are both read ふ but 符 means a mark, charm, or tally while 譜 means a musical score or genealogical record, so the two are easily mixed up in compounds like 音符 vs 楽譜.
ticket
musical note; note symbol · phonetic symbol; kana or kanji doubling mark; vowel lengthening mark · phonetic component of a kanji
full stop; period · end; conclusion
sign; symbol; mark; code · mathematical sign; positive or negative sign
question mark
talisman; amulet; charm
agreement; coincidence; correspondence
amulet; charm; talisman
symbol; sign; mark · secret price mark; coded price tag · secret language; code; cipher; argot; password
Standard kanji form for all senses.
Kana spelling is acceptable when the kanji is not needed, but the kanji is preferred for clarity.
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.
rest (music)
tally; split receipt; proof of transaction
verbal command (dog training) · phonetic component of a kanji
tone mark
semantic component of a kanji
manga symbols; visual shorthand in manga
imperial seal
logogram; abbreviation mark; symbol
amulet; charm; talisman
incantation; spell; charm