包

bāo

wrap, pack, bundle; package; encompass; womb

Meaning

Concrete: To wrap, pack, or bundle; a physical package or bag.
Spatial/Abstract: To contain, include, or surround; the encompassing of various elements within a single system.
Anatomical: Enveloping organs (specifically the womb/uterus); membranes, swellings, or fluid-filled pockets.

Grammar and usage

Verb: Primarily transitive (to wrap/enclose). Can function as a resultative state (to be contained).
Noun: A physical bundle or an enveloping organ.
Modifier: Inclusive, comprehensive, or encompassing.

Distinctions

包 vs. 裹 (guǒ): While both involve wrapping, 包 emphasizes the container and the act of enclosure/containment; 裹 emphasizes the tightness of the bind, often implying restriction or constriction.

History and forms

Variants: U+52F9 is a known variant that does not alter lexical meaning.
Phonetics: Stable evolution from Old Chinese through Tang (bau) to modern bāo.

Translator notes

In early texts, prioritize "inclusion" or "containment." The sense of "tolerance" (as in the modern 包容) is generally a later development.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.