包
bāo/pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/
In Mandarin, the word for bag is 包 (bāo). Wiktionary also lists 袋 (dài).
Meaning: flexible container (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 包 | bāo | /pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /paʊ̯ɻʷ⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Erhua, Sinological IPA, 包兒 / 包儿) |
|
| 袋 | dài | /taɪ̯⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /tɑɻ⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Erhua, Sinological IPA) |
|
| 袋仔 | tē-á | /te²¹ a⁴⁴⁵/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Penang, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese, Hsinchu) /te²²⁻²¹ a⁵³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Penang, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese, Hsinchu) |
Hokkien |
| 橐仔 | lok-á | /lɔk̚³²⁻⁴ a⁵³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Xiamen) /lɔk̚⁵⁻²⁴ a⁵⁵⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Quanzhou) |
Hokkien |
The term 包 refers to a flexible container. It can also be used as a verb meaning 'to wrap' or 'to bundle'.
Which one should you use?
The word 包 (bāo) is typically used for bags that have a more structured shape or are carried as an accessory, such as a backpack or a handbag. In contrast, 袋 (dài) is typically used for flexible containers like sacks, pouches or plastic bags.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Dungan, the word is бозы. In Hokkien, you may use 袋仔 or 橐仔.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting bags, you should use a classifier such as 个 (gè) for 包 (bāo) or 只 (zhī) for certain types of bags.
How do you pronounce it?
bāo is pronounced /pɑʊ̯⁵⁵/.
Did you know?
- The character 包 (bāo) is a pictogram that ancient scribes interpreted as a fetus inside a womb. It captures the very essence of being 'wrapped' or 'contained' within something.
- The phrase 包办 (bāobàn) uses the word for bag to describe 'monopolizing' or 'arranging everything' for someone else, like an arranged marriage.
- In some contexts, the classifier 只 (zhī) is used for bags, which is the same classifier used for many animals, such as 'one bird' or 'one cat'.
Examples in context
- 那是我的包。This is my bag.This sentence is useful for identifying ownership of a 包.Tatoeba #2040518 by sadhen, translation #55628 by jakov
- 钱包在包里。The wallet is in the bag.This sentence is useful for describing the location of an object inside a 包.Tatoeba #3377883 by GlossaMatik, translation #3377884 by _undertoad
- 我扛着米袋。I carry a bag of rice.This sentence is useful for describing the act of carrying a 袋.Tatoeba #8727927 by crescat, translation #4253066 by orcrist
- Wǒ yǒu yīgè dà bāo. 我有一个大包。I have a big bag.
- 73 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xiaowen and Zhiqiang are getting ready to leave the house.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，你的包在哪里？Zhìqiáng, nǐ de bāo zài nǎlǐ?Zhiqiang, where is your bag?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我的包在桌子上。Wǒ de bāo zài zhuōzi shàng.My bag is on the table.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这个包太重了，你没事吧？Zhège bāo tài zhòng le, nǐ méishì ba?This bag is too heavy, are you okay?
- 志强 Zhiqiang没关系，我习惯了。Méiguānxì, wǒ xíguàn le.It's okay, I'm used to it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bag” translations and entries 包, 袋, 袋仔, 橐仔, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 包, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
