袱紗(ふくさ)

ふくさ
noun
wrapping cloth for gift envelopes; ceremonial cloth
culture
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(けっこんしき)には袱紗(ふくさ)に包(つつ)んで持(も)っていく。
You wrap it in a fukusa and bring it to the wedding.
慶事用(けいじよう)の袱紗(ふくさ)は暖色系(だんしょくけい)のものを選(えら)ぶ。
For happy occasions, choose a fukusa in warm colors.
受付(うけつけ)で袱紗(ふくさ)から祝儀袋(しゅうぎぶくろ)を取(と)り出(だ)して渡(わた)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(ふくさ)さばきを練習(れんしゅう)する。
I practice the fukusa handling technique.
茶道(さどう)では袱紗(ふくさ)の折(お)り方(かた)にも決(き)まりがある。
In tea ceremony, there are set rules for how to fold the fukusa.
先生(せんせい)が袱紗(ふくさ)の使(つか)い方(かた)を一(ひと)つ一(ひと)つ丁寧(ていねい)に教(おし)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(ふくさ) when attending weddings or funerals, where it is considered proper etiquette to present gift money wrapped in one.

Common collocations

  • 袱紗(ふくさ)に包(つつ)む: to wrap in a fukusa
  • 袱紗(ふくさ)から出(だ)す: to take out of the fukusa
  • 慶弔用(けいちょうよう)の袱紗(ふくさ): fukusa for celebrations and condolences
  • 袱紗(ふくさ)さばき: fukusa handling technique (tea ceremony)

Color etiquette

  • 慶事(けいじ) (happy occasions): warm colors — red, orange, pink
  • 弔事(ちょうじ) (funerals): cool colors — navy, gray, dark green
  • 紫(むらさき) (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.

general
Added 2026.5.5 21:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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