1.
to seal, to close with a seal
To seal an envelope, container, or opening. The physical act of sealing something shut.
封筒を封じる。
To seal an envelope.
手紙をのりで封じて出した。
I sealed the letter with glue and sent it.
瓶の口をしっかり封じてください。
Please seal the bottle opening tightly.
2.
to block, to suppress, to seal away
To prevent something from being used, expressed, or accessed. Used figuratively for suppressing abilities, memories, or options.
相手の攻撃を封じる。
To block the opponent's attack.
辛い記憶を心の奥に封じた。
I sealed the painful memories deep in my heart.
監督は相手チームのエースを完全に封じる作戦を立てた。
The coach devised a strategy to completely shut down the opposing team's ace player.
GRAMMAR:
封じる is an ichidan verb. The older godan form 封ずる also exists but is less common in modern usage.
COLLOCATIONS:
- 封筒を封じる — to seal an envelope
- 口を封じる — to silence someone, to shut someone up
- 記憶を封じる — to seal away memories
- 攻撃を封じる — to block an attack
SIMILAR WORDS:
塞ぐ means to block or close off a physical opening. 封印する means to seal away, often with a supernatural or dramatic connotation. 封じる covers both physical sealing and figurative suppression.