Explore 包 in physical wrapping and the broader idea of inclusion. Learn each reading as part of a word.

The idea

包 has five strokes; follow the linked diagram. 包む（つつむ） is a verb; 包装（ほうそう） means packaging and 包帯（ほうたい） is a bandage. 包括（ほうかつ） means encompassing.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
包むつつむto wrap
包装ほうそうpackaging
包帯ほうたいbandage
包括ほうかつto encompass

Examples

  • 贈おくり物ものを紙かみで包つつみます。I wrap the gift in paper.
  • パンを布ぬので包つつんでください。Please wrap the bread in cloth.
  • 町まちは霧きりに包つつまれています。The town is wrapped in fog.
  • 店みせは商品しょうひんを丁寧ていねいに包装ほうそうします。The shop packages the goods carefully.
  • 傷きずに包帯ほうたいを巻まきます。I put a bandage on the wound.
  • この計画けいかくは旅費りょひを包括ほうかつします。This plan includes travel expenses.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

The material used to wrap takes で: 紙で包む. In 霧に包まれる, に marks what envelops the town. Do not confuse 包 with 抱, which has an extra hand component.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 包む in hiragana.

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    つつむ

    包む is つつむ; the ending む is part of the verb.

  2. Write the reading of 包装 in hiragana.

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    ほうそう

    包装 is ほうそう; learn the compound as a whole.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿帯（ほうたい）［包／抱］.

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    包

    包 makes 包帯（ほうたい）, a bandage used to wrap a wound.

Use it today

Write 包 in stroke order, cover the table and read 包む and 包装. Then make a sentence using 紙で包む.