The Chinese word 包袱 (bāofu) is a compound term formed by combining two characters: 包 (bāo), meaning "to wrap" or "a bundle", and 袱 (fú), which refers to a cloth wrapper or covering. Literally, it denotes a cloth-wrapped bundle used for carrying belongings. Over time, through metaphorical extension, it evolved to signify a "burden" or "load", both in the physical sense and, more commonly, in the psychological sense, referring to emotional baggage, worries, or ideological constraints that weigh on a person. This figurative meaning is deeply rooted in Chinese cultural expressions, including its use in xiangsheng (crosstalk comedy), where it describes a punchline or a humorous insight that is "packed" and then "unpacked" for the audience.