囊括 (náng kuò) — to include everything, to encompass comprehensively; to win all (prizes, medals, titles) in a competition

Definition

A formal verb meaning to include or win everything in scope — 'to encompass comprehensively' or 'to sweep (all prizes/titles)'. Stronger and more literary than 包括, implying nothing is left out.

verb
to include everythingto encompass comprehensivelyto win all (prizes, medals, titles) in a competition

Examples

  • 囊括。
    Zhè běn shū náng kuò le suǒ yǒu zhòng yào de lì shǐ shì jiàn.
    This book covers all the important historical events.
  • 囊括。
    Zhōng guó duì zài ào yùn huì shàng náng kuò le quán bù jīn pái.
    The Chinese team swept all the gold medals at the Olympics.
  • 囊括。
    Tā de yán jiū náng kuò le duō gè xué kē lǐng yù.
    His research encompasses multiple academic fields.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

囊nángbag
括kuòinclude

囊 bag and 括 include suggest putting everything into a bag, so 囊括 means to encompass.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
㯻㯻㯻bag
Sound part声符shēngfú
襄
襄xiāng囊náng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

囊 is made from 㯻, a tied bag with items inside, plus an abbreviated form of 襄 that gives the sound.

Open 囊 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑括kuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

括 combines 手, a hand, with 𠯑, which gives the sound.

Open 括 →

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