札(ふだ)

ふだ
noun
tag; card; label; sign
tooldaily-life
1. tag; label; sign; placard
A piece of wood, paper, or other material bearing writing, used as a sign, label, or notice.
To put on a name tag.
I checked the price tag before buying.
入口(いりぐち)に「立入(たちいり)禁止(きんし)」の札(ふだ)がかかっている。
There's a 'No Entry' sign hanging at the entrance.
2. card (in card games); playing card
A card used in traditional Japanese card games such as karuta or hanafuda.
札(ふだ)を取(と)る。
To take a card.
To lay out the Hyakunin Isshu cards.
To play one's trump card.
3. talisman; charm; amulet (Buddhist or Shinto)
A paper or wooden charm distributed at temples and shrines, believed to offer divine protection.
I received a charm at the temple.
To stick a protective charm on the front door.
千社(せんじゃ)札(ふだ)を集(あつ)めるのが趣味(しゅみ)だ。
My hobby is collecting shrine-visit stickers.

A versatile word appearing in many compound words related to signs, labels, cards, and religious items. Read as ふだ as a standalone word, but as さつ in the word for banknote (お札(さつ)).

Compounds

Watch out

  • ふだ: tag, card, charm (the native Japanese reading)
  • さつ: banknote (Sino-Japanese reading) — see separate entry for 札(さつ)

Similar words

  • ラベル: label — a loanword used specifically for adhesive labels on products
  • カード: card — loanword for modern cards (credit card, membership card)
  • タグ: tag — loanword used in computing and for clothing tags