打包

• Pinyin: dǎ bāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 打 (action marker) + 包 (wrap, package)

Meaning

To pack; to package; to get a doggy bag.

Has two main meanings: 1) to pack items (for moving, shipping, etc.) and 2) to take leftover food home from a restaurant. The restaurant usage is very common and practical in Chinese dining culture.

Examples

1. 这些菜我们吃不完，打包带走吧。 We can't finish all this food — let's pack it to go.
2. 搬家之前，我花了两天时间打包行李。 Before moving, I spent two days packing my luggage.
3. 麻烦帮我把这个打包一下。 Could you please pack this up for me?

Usage Guide

Context: restaurants, moving, shipping

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 请帮我打包。(Please pack this up for me.)
• 剩下的打包吧。(Let's pack up the leftovers.)

Don't Say

• 在高档餐厅直接说'打包'可能显得不够正式——可以说'麻烦帮我包起来' (At fancy restaurants, 打包 may seem casual — 麻烦帮我包起来 sounds more polite)

Origin & History

Compound of 打 (action marker) + 包 (to wrap, package), meaning to wrap up or package.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal