dǎbāo: 打包 - To Pack, Get Takeout, Doggy Bag

• Keywords: dǎbāo, 打包, Chinese for takeout, doggy bag in Chinese, how to ask for takeout in Chinese, packing in Chinese, packing luggage, packing leftovers, Chinese restaurant vocabulary
• Summary: Learn how to use the essential Chinese word 打包 (dǎbāo), a versatile verb that means “to pack.” While it can be used for packing a suitcase, its most common and crucial use is for getting food to go from a restaurant, whether it's leftovers or a whole meal. This guide will teach you the meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage of dǎbāo, so you can confidently order takeout or save your leftovers like a local in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎbāo
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To pack items into a bag or box, especially to get food to go from a restaurant.
• In a Nutshell: At its heart, 打包 (dǎbāo) is about gathering things and putting them into a container for transport. Think of it as the go-to word for “packing up.” While you can “dǎbāo” your clothes into a suitcase, you'll hear it most often in restaurants. It's the standard, simple way to ask to take your delicious, unfinished food home with you. It's a practical, everyday word that's essential for dining out in China.

• 打 (dǎ): While its primary meaning is “to hit” or “to strike,” 打 is one of the most versatile characters in Chinese. It often functions as a generic action verb, similar to “to do” or “to make” in English. Here, it signifies the *action* of making a package.
• 包 (bāo): This character means “to wrap,” “a bag,” or “a bundle.” It's a pictograph that originally depicted a person wrapping something in their arms, like a baby in a swaddle.

When combined, 打包 (dǎbāo) literally means “to make a bundle” or “to strike a package.” This perfectly captures the action of gathering items (like leftovers or clothes) and putting them into a container (a box, bag, or suitcase).

In Chinese culture, wasting food is heavily frowned upon. The concept of 节约 (jiéyuē), or frugality, is a traditional virtue. Asking to 打包 (dǎbāo) your leftovers is not just common; it's considered a responsible and respectable act. There is no stigma or embarrassment associated with it. In fact, you'll see people from all walks of life, from students to business people, packing up leftovers after a meal. This contrasts with some Western cultural nuances. The English term “doggy bag,” for example, humorously implies the food is for one's pet, which can subtly deflect the idea that one is being “cheap.” In China, there's no such pretense. 打包 (dǎbāo) is a direct, practical action rooted in the value of not being wasteful. This has even been reinforced by modern government campaigns like the “Clean Plate Campaign” (光盘行动 guāngpán xíngdòng) to combat food waste. So, when you 打包 in China, you're not just getting food to go—you're participating in a widespread cultural norm that values resourcefulness.

打包 (dǎbāo) is an incredibly useful word in various everyday situations.

This is the most common context. If you can't finish your meal, simply catch the waiter's attention and say:

• “服务员，打包！” (Fúwùyuán, dǎbāo!) - “Waiter, I'd like to pack this up!”

You can also be more specific by pointing at a dish:

• “这个菜，请帮我打包。” (Zhège cài, qǐng bāng wǒ dǎbāo.) - “This dish, please help me pack it up.”

If you walk into a restaurant and want to order food to take away (not for delivery), 打包 is the word to use.

• “你好，我要一个宫保鸡丁，打包。” (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào yīgè gōng bǎo jī dīng, dǎbāo.) - “Hello, I'd like a Kung Pao Chicken, to go.”

Note: For food delivery ordered via an app, the term 外卖 (wàimài) is used instead.

The term also applies to its literal meaning of packing items.

• Packing Luggage: “我明天要出差，今晚得打包行李。” (Wǒ míngtiān yào chūchāi, jīnwǎn děi dǎbāo xíngli.) - “I have a business trip tomorrow, I need to pack my luggage tonight.”
• Packing a Gift: “你能帮我把这个礼物打包一下吗？” (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎ zhège lǐwù dǎbāo yīxià ma?) - “Can you help me wrap this gift?”

Example 1:

• 服务员，剩下的菜我们要打包。
• Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, shèngxià de cài wǒmen yào dǎbāo.
• English: Waiter, we want to pack up the leftover dishes.
• Analysis: A classic, polite, and direct way to ask for a doggy bag in a restaurant. This is a must-know sentence.

Example 2:

• 这些吃不完，我们打包带走吧。
• Pinyin: Zhèxiē chī bù wán, wǒmen dǎbāo dàizǒu ba.
• English: We can't finish all this, let's pack it up and take it away.
• Analysis: Here, 打包 is combined with 带走 (dàizǒu), which means “to take away,” reinforcing the intention. This is very common in casual conversation.

Example 3:

• 你好，我要一份炒饭，打包。
• Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào yī fèn chǎofàn, dǎbāo.
• English: Hello, I'd like one order of fried rice, to go.
• Analysis: This shows how to order food for takeout when you are physically at the restaurant or counter.

Example 4:

• 出发前，别忘了打包你的护照。
• Pinyin: Chūfā qián, bié wàngle dǎbāo nǐ de hùzhào.
• English: Before you leave, don't forget to pack your passport.
• Analysis: This example shows the literal use of 打包 for packing personal items, not food.

Example 5:

• 这个可以打包吗？
• Pinyin: Zhège kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?
• English: Can I get this to go? / Can this be packed up?
• Analysis: A simple and effective question form. You can use this while pointing to a dish on the table.

Example 6:

• 我需要一个大一点的盒子来打包这个蛋糕。
• Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào yīgè dà yīdiǎn de hézi lái dǎbāo zhège dàngāo.
• English: I need a bigger box to pack this cake.
• Analysis: This sentence demonstrates that 打包 isn't just for leftovers but for any food item you want to transport.

Example 7:

• 这家店的打包盒很漂亮。
• Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn de dǎbāo hé hěn piàoliang.
• English: The takeout boxes from this restaurant are very pretty.
• Analysis: Here, 打包 is used as an adjective to describe the box (a “packing box” or takeout container).

Example 8:

• 程序员需要把这些文件打包成一个 .zip 文件。
• Pinyin: Chéngxùyuán xūyào bǎ zhèxiē wénjiàn dǎbāo chéng yīgè .zip wénjiàn.
• English: The programmer needs to package these files into a .zip file.
• Analysis: This shows the modern, technical usage of 打包, meaning to compress or package digital files.

Example 9:

• 他们提供打包午餐服务，很适合上班族。
• Pinyin: Tāmen tígōng dǎbāo wǔcān fúwù, hěn shìhé shàngbānzú.
• English: They offer a packed lunch service, which is very suitable for office workers.
• Analysis: This shows 打包 used to describe a type of service, similar to “takeout lunch service.”

Example 10:

• 妈妈总是提醒我，在外面吃饭吃不完一定要打包。
• Pinyin: Māmā zǒngshì tíxǐng wǒ, zài wàimiàn chīfàn chī bù wán yīdìng yào dǎbāo.
• English: My mom always reminds me that when eating out, if I can't finish, I must pack it up.
• Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the cultural value of not wasting food that is associated with 打包.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 打包 (dǎbāo) and 外卖 (wàimài).

• 打包 (dǎbāo): To take away. You use this when you are at the location (e.g., a restaurant) and want to take food/items away with you. This includes leftovers or a freshly ordered meal to-go.
  • Correct: 我在餐厅，吃不完，要打包。 (Wǒ zài cāntīng, chī bù wán, yào dǎbāo.) - I'm at the restaurant, can't finish, I want to pack it up.
• 外卖 (wàimài): Delivery. You use this when you want food delivered to your location (home, office). This is almost always done through a phone call or a delivery app.
  • Correct: 我今天很累，我们点外卖吧。 (Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi, wǒmen diǎn wàimài ba.) - I'm tired today, let's order delivery.

Common Mistake: Using 打包 when you mean to order delivery.

• Incorrect: 我想在家打包一个披萨。 (Wǒ xiǎng zài jiā dǎbāo yīgè pīsà.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds like you want to physically pack a pizza inside your house. If you want a pizza delivered to your house, you should say, “我想点一个披萨外卖” (Wǒ xiǎng diǎn yīgè pīsà wàimài).

• 外卖 (wàimài) - Food delivery service. The primary alternative to 打包 when you want food brought to you.
• 带走 (dàizǒu) - To take away. A close synonym of 打包 in the context of food, often used interchangeably. “打包带走” is a very common phrase.
• 剩菜 (shèngcài) - Leftovers. The actual food that you ask to 打包.
• 服务员 (fúwùyuán) - Waiter/waitress. The person you ask to 打包 your food.
• 节约 (jiéyuē) - To be frugal, to save. The core cultural value that makes 打包 a common and respected practice.
• 饭盒 (fànhé) - Lunchbox, food container. The physical container your food is put into when you 打包.
• 包装 (bāozhuāng) - Packaging, to pack (a product). More formal and often used for commercial products or gifts. 包装 focuses on the presentation, while 打包 focuses on the action of getting it ready for transport.
• 行李 (xíngli) - Luggage, baggage. The main non-food item that you 打包.