包 (bāo): bag

Meanings

1 bag
2 package
3 to wrap
4 to include

Characters

包

bāo

to wrap; bag; package

Examples

这个包多少钱？

Zhè ge bāo duōshao qián?

How much is this bag?

他包了一个饺子。

Tā bāo le yī gè jiǎozi.

He wrapped a dumpling.

包在我身上。

Bāo zài wǒ shēnshang.

Leave it to me. (I'll take care of it.)

Tips

culture

红包 (red envelope) — gifts of money in red envelopes are given during Chinese New Year, weddings, and birthdays. Now also popular as digital payments on WeChat.

usage

包 as a verb means 'to wrap': 包饺子 (wrap dumplings) is a beloved family activity during Chinese New Year.

Components

radical

勹 bāo

to wrap (enclosing radical)

Outer wrap radical — pictures a body curling over to enfold something. The indexing radical for 包; gives the sound directly (bāo = bāo) and the wrapping motion. Same radical anchors 勺 (ladle), 匀 (even), 句 (sentence) — all involving curving or scooping shapes.

semantic

巳 sì

fetus; sixth earthly branch

Inside 巳 — originally pictured a curled-up fetus or unborn child. Together: a body wrapping around a fetus, the original meaning of 包 being a womb enfolding new life. From there generalised to any wrapping or bundle.