包

bāo

勹 + 巳

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

bāo (verb) to wrap; to cover

bāo (noun) package; bag; bundle

bāo (verb) to include; to contain

bāo (verb) to take charge of; to contract

Etymology

Depicts a person (勹) hugging a child (子). Based on the original meaning "to embrace", now written as 抱. The meaning later shifted to "cover" and "wrap".

About

The character 包 is an ideogram representing the concept of wrapping or enclosing. It consists of the radical 勹 (enclosure) surrounding the component 巳 (fetus), visually suggesting a fetus within a womb. This structure originally conveyed the meaning of a pregnant woman or womb, depicting something precious wrapped and protected. Over time, this specific biological sense broadened into a general verb meaning to wrap or package, and later evolved into a noun for a bag, sack, bundle, or any container for objects.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个包太重了。

Zhè ge bāo tài zhòng le.

This bag is too heavy.

妈妈做了好吃的包子。

Māma zuò le hǎo chī de bāozi.

Mom made delicious steamed buns.

我书包里有一本书。

Wǒ shūbāo lǐ yǒu yī běn shū.

There is a book in my schoolbag.

他承担了所有的责任。

Tā chéngdān le suǒyǒu de zérèn.

He took on all the responsibility.

旅行前要把行李包好。

Lǚxíng qián yào bǎ xíngli bāo hǎo.

You must pack your luggage well before traveling.

这个工程由我们公司承包。

Zhè gè gōngchéng yóu wǒmen gōngsī chéngbāo.

This project is contracted by our company.

请把文件的含义概括一下。

Qǐng bǎ wénjiàn de hányì gàikuò yīxià.

Please summarize the meaning of the document.

软件包含了用户需要的所有功能。

Ruǎnjiàn bāohán le yònghù xūyào de suǒyǒu gōngnéng.

The software contains all the functions the user needs.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 勹

Component: 巳

包