Definition

1. Noun:

   • Bag, sack: A flexible container, typically made of cloth or paper, used for holding and carrying things, especially granular or loose materials.
   • Box, packet, case: A small, often rigid container for holding a specific quantity or set of items.

2. Verb:

   • To wrap, to envelop: To cover or surround something completely by enclosing it.
   • To support financially, to pay for: To bear the cost of something for oneself or others; to fund or sponsor.
   • To encircle, to surround: To form a boundary or circle around an area or object.

3. Interrogative/Exclamatory Particle:

   • How (much/many): Used in questions or exclamations to ask about or emphasize quantity, degree, or extent.
   • Not much, not many: Used in negative constructions to mean "not a lot" or "insignificant."

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Bao dùng để đựng gạo. (A bag is used to hold rice.)
  • Mua một bao thuốc lá. (Buy a packet of cigarettes.)
  • Để kính vào bao. (Put the glasses in the case.)

• Verb:

  • Bao quần áo trong giấy. (Wrap the clothes in paper.)
  • Anh ấy bao toàn bộ chi phí bữa ăn. (He paid for the entire cost of the meal.)
  • Tường thành bao quanh thành phố cổ. (The fortress wall surrounds the old city.)

• Interrogative/Exclamatory Particle:

  • Bao lâu nữa? (How much longer?)
  • Đẹp bao! (How beautiful!)
  • Khó khăn chẳng là bao. (The difficulty is not much.)

Advanced Usage

• "bao bọc": to protect, to shelter (often emotionally or physically).

  • Cha mẹ luôn bao bọc con cái. (Parents always protect their children.)

• "bao hàm": to contain, to imply, to encompass.

  • Định nghĩa này bao hàm nhiều ý nghĩa. (This definition encompasses many meanings.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bao tải (n): gunny sack, burlap bag.

  • Đựng khoai trong bao tải. (Put the potatoes in a gunny sack.)

• Bao tử (n): stomach (archaic or formal term in biology).

  • Đau bao tử. (Stomach ache.)

Synonyms

• Noun: sack, pouch, package.
• Verb (to wrap): encase, cover.
• Verb (to pay for): fund, finance, cover the cost.
• Interrogative: how, to what extent.

Related Idioms

• Bao đồng: to be meddlesome, to take on everything (often used negatively).

  • Đừng có bao đồng, việc ai nấy làm. (Don't be meddlesome; let everyone do their own work.)

• Bao nhiêu: how much, how many (a common compound interrogative).

  • Còn bao nhiêu tiền? (How much money is left?)

• Chẳng là bao: to be insignificant, not a big deal.

  • Số tiền đó chẳng là bao. (That amount of money is insignificant.)

noun

1. bag, sack
   • bao dùng để đựng gạo
     A rice bag
   • anh ta yếu đến nỗi không nhấc được một bao gạo
     he is too weak to lift a bag of rice
   • xi măng đã đóng bao
     cement in bags
2. Box; packet
   • bao thuốc lá
     A packet of cigarettes
   • bao diêm
     A box of matches
   • bao kính
     A spectacle case
3. Waist bag

verb

1. support