包
bag; package; to wrap
HSK level
- Pinyin
- bāo
- Part of speech
- noun
- Level
- HSK 3
- Strokes
- 5
- Register
- neutral
- Measure word
- 个 / 只
Stroke order for 包
包 is written with 5 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
What does 包 mean?
包 (bāo) is a flexible word that covers three connected ideas.
As a noun it means 'bag' or 'package' — backpack (书包 shūbāo), handbag (手提包 shǒutíbāo), wallet-style bag (钱包 qiánbāo). As a verb it means 'to wrap' or 'to pack' — wrap a gift, wrap dumplings, package up leftovers (包饺子 'make dumplings,' 包礼物 'wrap a gift'). As a measure word it counts packaged units — 一包薯片 ('a bag of chips'), 一包烟 ('a pack of cigarettes').
The same character covers all three because the underlying image is 'something wrapped or enclosed.' Two notes for English speakers: when 包 means 'bag,' it usually appears in a compound that tells you which kind of bag (书包, 钱包, 背包); standing alone it is generic. As a verb in food contexts, 包 specifically means the action of folding wrappers around filling — used for dumplings, baozi, spring rolls.
Note: Neutral. Functions as a noun ('bag') in everyday speech and as a verb ('to wrap') in cooking and packaging contexts. Slightly less formal than 包裹 (bāoguǒ, 'parcel').
Example sentences
我的钱包在书包里。
Wǒ de qiánbāo zài shūbāo lǐ.
My wallet is in my schoolbag.
spoken
妈妈在厨房包饺子。
Māma zài chúfáng bāo jiǎozi.
Mom is making dumplings in the kitchen.
spoken
请帮我打包一下。
Qǐng bāng wǒ dǎbāo yíxià.
Could you pack this up to go, please?
spoken, polite
他买了一包零食。
Tā mǎi le yì bāo língshí.
He bought a bag of snacks.
spoken
Common phrases with 包
Synonyms
袋 (袋子) is a 'sack' or flexible bag — plastic bag, rice sack, paper bag. 包 is more often a structured bag (backpack, handbag). A grocery bag is 袋子; a handbag is 包.
包裹 specifically means a 'parcel / package' — what the delivery person brings. 包 alone is broader: any bag or wrap. 我收到一个包裹 ('I got a parcel').
Don't confuse 包 with
FAQ
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