包
bāo
The English verb wrap is translated into Chinese as 包 (bāo). Wiktionary also lists 包裝 / 包装 (bāozhuāng) and 密封 (mìfēng).
Meaning: to enclose completely in fabric, paper, etc (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 包 | bāo |
| 包裝 / 包装 | bāozhuāng |
| 密封 | mìfēng |
| 包裹 | bāoguǒ |
The primary meaning is to enclose something completely in fabric, paper, etc.
Which one should you use?
Use 包装 when you want to refer to the formal act of packaging or wrapping something. If your goal is specifically to make something airtight or hermetically sealed, use 密封 instead of 包. In the specific colloquial context of asking to have leftover food wrapped to take away, the compound verb 打包 is used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term 包裹 is used to refer to wrapping or packaging. In Taiwanese Hokkien, the word 包 expresses the idea of wrapping something.
How do you pronounce it?
bāo
Did you know?
- The character 包 traces its roots back to a pictogram of a fetus inside a womb. This connection suggests that the concept of wrapping is fundamentally linked to the idea of protection and nurturing.
- While 包装 refers to packaging, in modern internet slang it can be used to describe 'packaging' a person's public image or persona to make them look better.
- In a gambling or competitive context, 包 can be used to mean 'to guarantee' or 'to cover the cost' of something, similar to the English 'it's on me'.
Examples in context
- 您是在这儿用餐，还是给您打包带走？Are you going to eat here or do you want us to wrap it?This sentence is useful for asking if a customer wants to eat in or have their food wrapped to go using 包.Tatoeba #4915629 by khe, translation #3663488 by Eldad
- 請你分開包裝好嗎？Could you wrap this separately, please?This sentence uses 包 to ask for items to be wrapped separately.Tatoeba #838641 by Martha, translation #320322 by CK
- 能帮我把它包装成礼品吗？Can you gift-wrap this, please?This sentence shows how to ask for something to be gift-wrapped using 包装.Tatoeba #2298442 by fercheung, translation #34093 by CK
- 请将这份礼物精美包装起来。(Qǐng jiāng zhè fèn lǐwù jīngměi bāozhuāng qǐlai.)Please wrap this gift beautifully.
- 这些商品都需要用纸箱包装。(Zhèxiē shāngpǐn dōu xūyào yòng zhǐxiāng bāozhuāng.)These products all need to be packaged in cardboard boxes.
- 我会帮你把礼物包起来的。(Wǒ huì bāng nǐ bǎ lǐwù bāo qǐlai de.)I will help you wrap the gift.
- 别忘记把三明治包好。(Bié wàngjì bǎ sānmíngzhì bāo hǎo.)Don't forget to wrap the sandwich properly.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A woman is asking a man to help her prepare a gift.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，你能帮我把这个包起来吗？Jùnjié, nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎ zhège bāo qǐlái ma?Junjie, can you help me wrap this?
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，你有合适的纸吗？Méi wèntí, nǐ yǒu héshì de zhǐ ma?No problem, do you have suitable paper?
- 梓涵 Zihan这里有红色的包装纸。Zhèlǐ yǒu hóngsè de bāozhuāngzhǐ.There is red wrapping paper here.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，我这就帮你包好。Hǎo de, wǒ zhè jiù bāng nǐ bāo hǎo.Okay, I will wrap it for you right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wrap” translations, 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.
