包 meaning and stroke order
To cover; to wrap; to hold
How to write 包, stroke by stroke
5 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Meaning of 包
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to cover
- to wrap
- to hold
- to include
- to take charge of
- to contract (to or for)
How 包 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To swaddle 勹 a baby 巳; 勹 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 勹 (wrap), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 包
Picture the curved 勹 as a blanket wrapping around 巳, a small baby curled inside. Swaddling a baby is the original idea of wrapping, and 勹 also hints at the sound bāo.
包 (bāo) works as a verb meaning to wrap or include, and as a noun for a bag or package. It appears in many everyday words like 书包 (shūbāo) schoolbag and 钱包 (qiánbāo) wallet. Example: 我想吃包子。(Wǒ xiǎng chī bāozi.) I want to eat steamed buns.
Common mistake: Learners often write the inside as 己 or 已 instead of 巳. In 包 the inner part is 巳, which closes fully at the top left. Also keep 包 (bāo) in the first tone, and do not confuse it with 抱 (bào, to hug), which adds a hand radical and uses the fourth tone.
Common words with 包
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 面包 | miànbāo | bread | HSK 1 |
| 钱包 | qiánbāo | purse; wallet | HSK 1 |
| 包子 | bāozi | baozi; bao (steamed stuffed bun) | HSK 1 |
| 书包 | shūbāo | schoolbag; satchel | HSK 1 |
| 皮包 | píbāo | handbag; briefcase | HSK 3 |
| 包括 | bāokuò | to comprise; to include | HSK 4 |
| 包裹 | bāoguǒ | to wrap up; to bind up | HSK 4 |
| 包含 | bāohán | to contain; to embody | HSK 4 |
| 红包 | hóngbāo | money wrapped in red as a gift; bonus payment | HSK 4 |
| 包围 | bāowéi | to surround; to encircle; to hem in | HSK 5 |
| 打包 | dǎbāo | to wrap; to pack; to put leftovers in a doggy bag for take-out | HSK 5 |
| 背包 | bēibāo | knapsack; rucksack | HSK 5 |
| 包装 | bāozhuāng | to wrap; to package (goods etc); packaging; packing materials | HSK 5 |
| 包扎 | bāozā | to wrap up; to pack | HSK 7-9 |
包 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 包
Learning 包 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 包
How many strokes are in 包?
包 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 包 mean?
包 (bāo) means to cover; to wrap; to hold. A common word with it is 面包 (miànbāo), meaning "bread".
How do you pronounce 包?
包 is pronounced bāo, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 包?
The radical of 包 is 勹, which carries the idea of "wrap". Dictionaries list 包 under this radical.
Is 包 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 包 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 包括 and 包含?
包括 (bāokuò) lists the items that are included, as in 价格包括早餐 (the price includes breakfast). 包含 (bāohán) is more about something containing or embodying a quality or meaning inside it.
Can 包 be used as a measure word?
Yes. 包 counts packs or bags of things, as in 一包烟 (yì bāo yān), a pack of cigarettes, or 一包糖 (yì bāo táng), a bag of candy.