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包办 (bāo bàn) — (v.) to handle all aspects of something, to take complete charge; (v.) to arrange (especially a marriage) for others without their consent

Definition

包办 (bāobàn) means taking full charge of something — the whole task, event, or decision is handled by one side. Often used for arranged marriage, where parents decide for their children (esp. example 2).

verb
(v.) to handle all aspects of something, to take complete charge(v.) to arrange (especially a marriage) for others without their consent

Examples

  • ，包办。
    Zhè jiàn shì nǐ bú yòng cāo xīn, wǒ quán quán bāo bàn le.
    Don't worry about this matter — I'll take care of everything.
  • 包办，。
    Tā men de hūn yīn shì fù mǔ bāo bàn de, liǎng rén gēn běn méi gǎn qíng.
    Their marriage was arranged by their parents — the two of them had no feelings at all.
  • 包办，。
    Lǐng dǎo bāo bàn le yí qiè, wǒ men zhǐ yào zhí xíng jiù xíng.
    The boss has taken charge of everything; we just need to execute.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

包bāotake charge
办bànhandle

The taking-charge sense of 包 and the handling sense of 办 combine to mean complete charge.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 包 pictures a fetus in a womb, or a baby wrapped in cloth.

Open 包 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 辦; 办 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
辡
辡biàn辦bàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 辦 combines 力 (strength) with 辡, which gives the sound; the simplified 办 is a later shorthand.

Open 办 →
Appears in
ManagementRomance & Marriage

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