包 (bāo) means "package" with 5 strokes, radical 勹 (wrap), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: package
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
包 is pictographic in origin. Bronze and seal forms show a fetus 巳 enclosed within a wrapping outer stroke that represents the womb or an enveloping membrane. The character therefore originally depicted pregnancy, with the outer shape conveying the act of wrapping or containing.
Form evolution
The bronze form is a clear silhouette of a womb containing a curled figure. Seal script regularised the outer envelope into the component now called 勹 (the wrap radical) and kept 巳 inside. Clerical and regular script preserved this 勹 + 巳 structure essentially unchanged, giving the modern 包 with no simplification needed.
How the meaning evolved
The original meaning of womb or pregnancy was later taken over by the phono-semantic compound 胞, which adds the flesh radical 月. 包 itself generalised to the verb to wrap and to the noun bundle or package. Modern senses extend further to inclusion (包括), guaranteeing (包你满意), and, by metaphor, to contracts and bulk arrangements (包车, 承包).
Cultural note
The character 胞 in 同胞 (compatriot, literally same-womb) is a direct descendant of 包's original meaning, preserving the ancient pregnancy image that 包 itself no longer carries.
Mnemonic
Something wrapped up — a bag, bread
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | bāo |
| Meanings | package |
| Stroke count | 5 strokes |
| Radical | 勹 (#20: wrap) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1 |
| Frequency | #108 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 包
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 包 | bāo | package | HSK 2 |
| 面包 | miànbāo | Bread | HSK 1 |
| 包子 | bāozi | Steamed stuffed bun | HSK 1 |
| 包含 | bāohán | Contain | HSK 5 |
| 包裹 | bāoguǒ | package | HSK 5 |
| 包括 | bāokuò | Include | HSK 5 |
| 包庇 | bāobì | to shield, to harbor | HSK 7-9 |
| 包涵 | bāohán | to forgive, to pardon | |
| 包容 | bāoróng | to pardon, to forgive | HSK 7-9 |
| 包围 | bāowéi | to surround, to encircle | HSK 7-9 |
| 包装 | bāozhuāng | to pack, to package | HSK 5 |
| 背包 | bèibāo | backpack, rucksack | HSK 4 |
| 打包 | dǎbāo | to pack, to package | HSK 5 |
Related characters
Similar meaning (food)
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.