大包大揽

• Pinyin: dà bāo dà lǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = big; 包 = 勹 + 巳 (to wrap); 揽 = 扌+ 览 (to gather, take on)

Meaning

To take on everything; to take full charge; to shoulder all responsibilities. An idiom describing someone who assumes all duties without delegating.

Can be positive (showing capability and responsibility) or negative (being controlling, not trusting others, or being unrealistic about one's capacity). Often leads to burnout or micromanagement.

Examples

1. 他做事喜欢大包大揽，什么都不放心交给别人。 He likes to take on everything himself and doesn't trust others to do anything.
2. 作为项目负责人，不能大包大揽，要学会分配任务。 As a project manager, you can't take on everything yourself — you need to learn to delegate tasks.
3. 她大包大揽把所有家务都承担了，累得够呛。 She took on all the housework by herself and exhausted herself.

Usage Guide

Context: work, family, responsibility

Tone: cautionary

Do Say

• 别什么事都大包大揽，会把自己累坏的。(Don't take everything on yourself — you'll wear yourself out.)
• 他这人就爱大包大揽，不让别人帮忙。(He just loves to take charge of everything and won't let others help.)

Don't Say

• 大包大揽地休息 (The idiom implies taking on work/responsibility — it doesn't apply to leisure activities)

Origin & History

Compound idiom of 大包 (big package/bundling) + 大揽 (big embrace/taking on). The reduplication emphasizes the comprehensive scope of assuming responsibility.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal