封じる|ふうじるfuujiru[0]heiban (flat)

1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto seal (e.g. a letter)
2. ichidan verb, transitive verbto prevent (e.g. movement); to forbid; to block (e.g. speech); to seal off (e.g. a building)
   彼かれらは賄賂わいろを使つかって証人しょうにんの口くちを封ふうじた。↗

   They bribed the witness into silence.

• Synonym封印ふういんNeutralAffixing a seal; by extension, sealing away power or memories. Focuses on storing something away rather than blocking it.
• Synonym完封かんぷうNeutralComplete suppression; in baseball, pitching a shutout. The focus is on totally keeping the other side from scoring.
• Synonym阻むはばむNeutralBlocks someone's path or action, as in 「行く手を阻む」; the emphasis is on standing in the way.
• Synonym阻止そしNeutralStops something from happening; the emphasis is on halting it, while 「封じる」 stresses sealing something so it cannot move.
• Synonym封鎖ふうさNeutralBlockades roads or areas, as in 「道路封鎖」; the focus is on cutting off entry and exit.
• Synonym閉ざすとざすNeutralShuts or seals places off, and covers being snowbound or a heart closing itself; carries a literary flavor.
• Synonym封ずるふうずるWrittenThe same verb as 「封じる」 in a more written/formal form, derived from the classical 「封ず」; modern Japanese normally uses 「封じる」.
• Synonym緘するかんするWrittenA separate verb that seals things shut and, figuratively, silences speech; very written/formal, seen mostly in 「口を緘する」.
• Synonym封緘ふうかんWrittenWritten/formal word for sealing envelopes or documents; covers only closing them shut, with no sense of stopping movement or action.
• Related塞ぐふさぐNeutralPlugs holes and passages or blocks the way; the emphasis is on physically stopping something up, as in a hole.
• Related閉鎖へいさNeutralClosing a facility or shutting down operations, as in 「工場閉鎖」; the focus is on a place ceasing to be used.
• Related閉じるとじるNeutralCloses books and eyes, or brings a meeting to an end; the focus is on shutting something that was open.
• Related閉めるしめるNeutralShuts doors, windows and lids; the most common word for this. It only means closing, with no nuance of preventing action.
• Related閉塞へいそくNeutralBlockage or obstruction, as in 「腸閉塞」 or 「閉塞感」; leans medical and figurative.
• Related鎖すさすWrittenRead 「さす」; an archaic word for shutting doors and windows or locking up. A different word from 「閉ざす」 read 「とざす」; today one says 「閉める」.
• Related塞げるふさげるNeutralMeans to block up or fill in, but is rarely used; in everyday speech 「塞ぐ」 is the normal choice.
• AntonymひらくNeutralThe antonym: to open or unseal something, the direct opposite of sealing it shut with 「封じる」.
• Antonym解放するNeutralThe antonym: to release or set free, the opposite of sealing in or suppressing.

Use 「封じる」 for sealing an envelope shut or blocking someone's movements or speech, as in 「動きを封じる」. For blockading an area say 「封鎖」; for plugging a hole 「塞ぐ」; for closing a door 「閉める」. 「封ずる」 is the written-style form of the same verb, while 「緘する」 is a separate, very written verb for sealing or silencing, as in 「口を緘する」; 「封印」 is affixing a seal or sealing something away; 「閉じる」 closes books and eyes; 「阻む」 and 「阻止」 stop action; 「閉ざす」 is literary. Antonyms: 「開く」 opens, 「解放する」 sets free.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 手紙てがみなどの口くちを閉とじて、開ひらかないようにする。
2. 動うごきや行為こういができないようにする。