1.
wrapping cloth for gift envelopes; ceremonial cloth
a small cloth used to wrap and carry gift money envelopes (goshuugi or kouden) at weddings and funerals
結婚式には袱紗に包んで持っていく。
You wrap it in a fukusa and bring it to the wedding.
慶事用の袱紗は暖色系のものを選ぶ。
For happy occasions, choose a fukusa in warm colors.
受付で袱紗から祝儀袋を取り出して渡した。
At the reception desk, I took the gift envelope out of the fukusa and handed it over.
2.
silk cloth used in tea ceremony
a folded silk cloth used in the Japanese tea ceremony for handling tea utensils
袱紗さばきを練習する。
I practice the fukusa handling technique.
茶道では袱紗の折り方にも決まりがある。
In tea ceremony, there are set rules for how to fold the fukusa.
先生が袱紗の使い方を一つ一つ丁寧に教えてくれた。
The teacher carefully taught us how to use the fukusa step by step.
An essential item of Japanese ceremonial etiquette. In everyday life, most people encounter 袱紗 when attending weddings or funerals, where it is considered proper etiquette to present gift money wrapped in one.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 袱紗に包む: to wrap in a fukusa
- 袱紗から出す: to take out of the fukusa
- 慶弔用の袱紗: fukusa for celebrations and condolences
- 袱紗さばき: fukusa handling technique (tea ceremony)
COLOR ETIQUETTE:
- 慶事 (happy occasions): warm colors — red, orange, pink
- 弔事 (funerals): cool colors — navy, gray, dark green
- 紫 (purple): can be used for both occasions
ALTERNATIVE WRITING:
Also written as ふくさ in hiragana or 帛紗 (especially in tea ceremony contexts). The simplified form is increasingly common.