包

wraps a thing inside something else — enclosing · Character component

wraps a thing inside something else — enclosing, bundling, covering — and in most characters it mainly supplies the sound bāo/páo

包 is a picture of something enclosed: the outer stroke 勹 is a bent, wrapping arm or cloth curving over and around, and inside it sits 巳, a curled-up unborn child or infant. You can still see this in the modern character — the hook of 勹 starts at the top left, sweeps over the top and down the right side, and the small 巳 is tucked in the pocket it makes. This sense of enclosing shows up in 胞 (the sac around a fetus), 苞 (leaves wrapping a bud), 袍 (a robe wrapping the body) and 饱 (a stuffed belly), while in many others such as 咆, 跑, 泡 and 雹 the 包 is there chiefly for its sound.

包 at a glance

Meaning

wraps a thing inside something else — enclosing

Strokes

5

Characters

24

Role

Contributes sound

Characters with 包 (19 of 24)

Frequently asked questions