Meaning
符 means mark, sign, token, charm, or ticket. The range sounds broad, but one idea ties them together: a symbol that stands in for something real. Today it appears most often in 切符 (train ticket) and 音符 (musical note) — two words any Japanese learner will meet early on.
符 breaks into two parts: the radical 竹 (bamboo) on top, and 付 (attach, give) below. In ancient China and Japan, official credentials were carved onto split bamboo strips. Each party held one half. When the two pieces fit together perfectly, the holder's identity was confirmed. That bamboo tally is where 符 comes from.
The matching idea survives in modern Japanese. 符合 means "to coincide" or "to tally with" — facts that check out, stories that line up. A musical 音符 represents a specific pitch. A 切符 represents the right to board. A protective 護符 stands for divine favor. In every case, 符 is a mark that corresponds to something real.
符 has 11 strokes and sits in Japan's Jōyō kanji list as a grade-8 (secondary school) character. Its radical is 竹 (bamboo), shared with kanji for objects historically made from bamboo — writing tools, baskets, and official documents among them.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
符 has one on'yomi: フ (fu). Since there is no kun'yomi, this single reading covers every compound. Key examples:
- 符号 (fugō) — sign, symbol, code; used in math, music, and linguistics
- 切符 (kippu) — ticket; 切 undergoes rendaku here, shifting from セツ to きっ
- 音符 (onpu) — musical note; literally "sound sign"
- 符合 (fugō) — to coincide, to tally; homophone of 符号, different meaning
- 呪符 (jufu) — written talisman; used in traditional and supernatural contexts
- 暗号符 (angōfu) — cipher, encoded symbol
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
符 has no kun'yomi. Japanese had no native word for an "official bamboo tally," so none was assigned. フ covers everything. Don't look for a native reading here — just learn the compounds.
Common Words & Compounds
Grouped by theme for easier recall:
Travel & Daily Life
- 切符 (kippu) — ticket (train, bus, etc.); the most common word with 符
- 往復切符 (ōfuku kippu) — round-trip ticket
- 定期券 vs 切符 — season pass vs single-ride ticket; 切符 refers to a one-time paper ticket
Music
- 音符 (onpu) — musical note; "sound sign"
- 休符 (kyūfu) — rest (in music); "rest sign"
- 四分休符 (shibun kyūfu) — quarter rest
Symbols & Codes
- 符号 (fugō) — sign, symbol, code
- 符合 (fugō) — to coincide, to agree; note the homophone with 符号
- 暗号符 (angōfu) — cipher, encoded symbol
Charms & Spiritual
- 呪符 (jufu) — written talisman
- 護符 (gofu) — protective amulet; sold at shrines and temples across Japan
- 御札 (ofuda) — paper charm (uses 札, not 符, but closely related in concept)
Example Sentences
電車に乗るために切符を買いました。
Densha ni noru tame ni kippu wo kaimashita.
I bought a ticket to ride the train.
自動券売機で切符を購入してください。
Jidō kenbaiki de kippu wo kōnyū shite kudasai.
Please purchase a ticket at the automatic ticket machine.
この楽譜には難しい音符がたくさんあります。
Kono gakufu ni wa muzukashii onpu ga takusan arimasu.
This sheet of music has many difficult notes.
彼女の証言は証拠と符合している。
Kanojo no shōgen wa shōko to fugō shite iru.
Her testimony tallies with the evidence.
数学では、いろいろな符号が使われます。
Sūgaku de wa, iroiro na fugō ga tsukawaremasu.
In mathematics, various signs and symbols are used.
お寺で護符を買って、財布に入れました。
O-tera de gofu wo katte, saifu ni iremashita.
I bought a protective charm at the temple and tucked it in my wallet.
音楽の授業で休符の読み方を習いました。
Ongaku no jugyō de kyūfu no yomikata wo naraimashita.
I learned how to read rests in music class.
その暗号の符号は複雑すぎて解読できなかった。
Sono angō no fugō wa fukuzatsu sugite kaidoku dekinakatta.
The cipher was too complex to decode.
二人の意見は完全に符合していた。
Futari no iken wa kanzen ni fugō shite ita.
Their opinions matched up perfectly.
往復切符を買えば、少し安くなります。
Ōfuku kippu wo kaeba, sukoshi yasuku narimasu.
If you buy a round-trip ticket, it'll be a bit cheaper.
Memory Tip
Picture a bamboo scroll (竹, the top radical) with an official seal attached (付 = attach). Ancient officials split a bamboo strip in two — each party kept one half. When the halves matched, access was granted. A 符 was the original password. That's why a train 切符 lets you board and a musical 音符 represents a pitch: both are marks that stand for something real. Bamboo on top, a mark given below.