Definitions

bāo bud; flower calyx; luxuriant; profuse

Etymology

A flower  unfolding  also provides the pronunciation

About

苞 is a phono-semantic compound referring to a botanical bud or its protective bract. The upper semantic radical 艹 links it to plant life and vegetation, while the lower component 包 provides the phonetic element and contributes the meaning of wrapping. This structure aptly describes how a bract encloses a developing flower. Today, its use is confined to precise botanical and agricultural terminology.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这些花很漂亮。

Zhè xiē huā bāo hěn piào liang.

These flower buds are very beautiful.

米可以煮着吃。

Bāo mǐ kě yǐ zhǔ zhe chī.

Corn can be boiled and eaten.

树上有很多新

Shù shàng yǒu hěn duō xīn bāo.

There are many new buds on the tree.

农民喜欢种谷。

Nóng mín xǐ huān zhòng bāo gǔ.

Farmers like to plant corn.

玫瑰的花是红色的。

Méi guī de huā bāo shì hóng sè de.

The rose buds are red.

片保护着幼嫩的花蕾。

Bāo piàn bǎo hù zhe yòu nèn de huā lěi.

Bracts protect the tender flower buds.

植物打时需细心照料。

Zhí wù dǎ bāo shí xū xì xīn zhào liào.

Plants need careful care when they are budding.

研究人员观察了的形态变化。

Yán jiū rén yuán guān chá le bāo de xíng tài biàn huà.

Researchers observed the morphological changes of the buds.