打包盒
dǎbāohé
In Chinese, the phrase for 'to go box' is 打包盒 (dǎbāohé).
The term refers to a container used to carry leftover food from a restaurant home. While 打包盒 refers to the physical container, the verb 打包 is used when asking a waiter to pack your leftovers into a container.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 打包盒 is composed of 打包 (dǎbāo), meaning to pack up or wrap up and 盒 (hé), meaning a box or container.
Which one should you use?
Another common way to refer to the container is 外卖盒 (wàimàihé), which literally means 'delivery box'.
How do you pronounce it?
dǎbāohé
Did you know?
- The verb 打包 (dǎbāo) originally comes from the practice of wrapping bundles or packages with cloth in ancient times. It has evolved from a physical action of tying a knot to the modern act of requesting leftovers.
- Unlike in some Western cultures where 'to go' might imply a separate order, in China, 打包 (dǎbāo) is most culturally significant as a way to avoid food waste. It is a common social etiquette to ask for a container rather than leaving food.
- While 打包 means 'to pack', in some contexts it is used as a slang term for 'packaging' a deal or a set of services into a single bundle.
Examples in context
- 请给我一个打包盒。Qǐng gěi wǒ yí gè dǎbāo hé.Please give me a to-go box.
- 这个打包盒很干净。Zhège dǎbāo hé hěn gānjìng.This to-go box is very clean.
- 餐厅提供免费的打包盒。Cāntīng tígōng miǎnfèi de dǎbāo hé.The restaurant provides free to-go boxes.
Example conversation
Zihan and Junjie are finishing their meal at a restaurant.
- 梓涵 Zihan菜太多了，我们拿个打包盒吧。Cài tài duō le, wǒmen ná gè dǎbāo hé ba.There is too much food, let's get a to go box.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，我去问一下服务员。Hǎo de, wǒ qù wèn yīxià fúwùyuán.Okay, I will go ask the waiter.
- 俊杰 Junjie梓涵，我拿到了打包盒。Zǐhán, wǒ ná dào le dǎbāo hé.Zihan, I got the to go box.
- 梓涵 Zihan太好了，谢谢俊杰。Tài hǎo le, xièxiè Jùnjié.Great, thanks Junjie.
