The Kanji: 包 (Hō / Tsutsu)
The kanji 包 means "to wrap," "to cover," or "package." It depicts a womb (巳) enclosing contents, representing the act of enveloping. This character describes various forms of wrapping and containment.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 包む (tsutsumu) - To wrap
プレゼントをきれいに包む。
"Wrap the gift beautifully."
2. 包丁 (hōchō) - Kitchen knife
包丁で野菜を切る。
"Cut vegetables with a kitchen knife."
3. 包装 (hōsō) - Packaging
商品の包装が丁寧だ。
"The product packaging is careful."
4. 包括的 (hōkatsuteki) - Comprehensive
包括的な対策を考える。
"Consider comprehensive measures."
In summary, 包 describes envelopment - from physical wrapping (包む, 包装) and cutting tools (包丁) to conceptual completeness (包括的). It's essential for discussing containment in both literal and figurative contexts.