包含与包括：清单与内容的实用例句 — illustrated Chinese learning guide

How to Say “Include” Correctly in Chinese

Many Chinese learners translate both 包含 (bāohán) and 包括 (bāokuò) as “include.”

That translation is not wrong, but these two words are not always used in the same way.

A simple way to remember:

包括 (bāokuò) = include items in a list
包含 (bāohán) = contain meaning, feeling, information, or inner parts

Let’s look at them clearly. 😊

1. What part of speech are 包含 and 包括?

Both 包含 and 包括 are usually used as verbs.

They can both mean “to include,” but their focus is different.

包括 (bāokuò) focuses on what is included in a group, set, price, course, plan, or list.

包含 (bāohán) focuses on what is contained inside something, especially meaning, emotion, information, or structure.

2. Use 包括 when you are listing parts or members

Use 包括 (bāokuò) when you want to say that something includes specific people, things, subjects, services, or parts.

It often answers the question:

“What things are included?”

Example 1

这个课程包括听、说、读、写四个部分。

Zhège kèchéng bāokuò tīng, shuō, dú, xiě sì ge bùfen.

This course includes four parts: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Example 2

这个价格包括早餐和接送服务。

Zhège jiàgé bāokuò zǎocān hé jiēsòng fúwù.

This price includes breakfast and pick-up service.

包含与包括：清单与内容的实用例句 — teaching illustration 2

3. Use 包含 when something has meaning, emotion, or information inside

Use 包含 (bāohán) when something contains a deeper meaning, feeling, idea, message, or information.

It often answers the question:

“What is inside this meaning/content?”

Example 1

这句话包含两层意思。

Zhè jù huà bāohán liǎng céng yìsi.

This sentence contains two layers of meaning.

Example 2

这封信包含了很多感谢和鼓励。

Zhè fēng xìn bāohán le hěn duō gǎnxiè hé gǔlì.

This letter contains a lot of thanks and encouragement.

Example 3

这个故事包含一个重要的道理。

Zhège gùshi bāohán yí ge zhòngyào de dàolǐ.

This story contains an important lesson.

包含与包括：清单与内容的实用例句 — teaching illustration 3

Here, 包含 sounds better because we are talking about meaning, emotion, or message inside something.

4. The main difference

The biggest difference is this:

包括 is more about listing included items.
包含 is more about internal content or deeper meaning.

For example:

这个套餐包括三节课。

Zhège tàocān bāokuò sān jié kè.

This package includes three lessons.

This is about a list of things included, so 包括 is correct.

这节课包含很多文化知识。

Zhè jié kè bāohán hěn duō wénhuà zhīshi.

This lesson contains a lot of cultural knowledge.

包含与包括：清单与内容的实用例句 — teaching illustration 4

This is about content inside the lesson, so 包含 sounds natural.

5. Can 包含 and 包括 sometimes be exchanged?

Sometimes, yes.

For example:

这本书包括五个部分。

Zhè běn shū bāokuò wǔ ge bùfen.

This book includes five parts.

这本书包含五个部分。

Zhè běn shū bāohán wǔ ge bùfen.

This book contains five parts.

Both are understandable.

But the feeling is slightly different:

包括 sounds like you are introducing the structure or list.
包含 sounds like you are talking about what is inside the book.

In daily Chinese, for clear lists, 包括 is usually more natural.

6. Common pattern with 包括

A very useful pattern is:

A 包括 B、C 和 D
A includes B, C, and D.

Example

中国菜包括很多不同的菜系。

Zhōngguó cài bāokuò hěn duō bùtóng de càixì.

Chinese food includes many different cuisines.

You can also put 包括 before examples:

我们需要准备很多东西，包括护照、机票和酒店信息。

Wǒmen xūyào zhǔnbèi hěn duō dōngxi, bāokuò hùzhào, jīpiào hé jiǔdiàn xìnxī.

We need to prepare many things, including passports, plane tickets, and hotel information.

包含与包括：清单与内容的实用例句 — teaching illustration 5

7. Common pattern with 包含

A useful pattern is:

A 包含 B
A contains B.

This is often used with words like:

意思 yìsi — meaning
信息 xìnxī — information
内容 nèiróng — content
感情 gǎnqíng — emotion
知识 zhīshi — knowledge
道理 dàolǐ — lesson / truth

Example

这个视频包含很多有用的信息。

Zhège shìpín bāohán hěn duō yǒuyòng de xìnxī.

This video contains a lot of useful information.

Example

一个简单的“谢谢”可能包含很多感情。

Yí ge jiǎndān de “xièxie” kěnéng bāohán hěn duō gǎnqíng.

A simple “thank you” may contain a lot of emotion.

包含与包括：清单与内容的实用例句 — teaching illustration 6

8. Common mistakes

Mistake 1

✅ 这个价格包含早餐和饮料。
Zhège jiàgé bāohán zǎocān hé yǐnliào.

This sentence is natural. Here, 包含 presents breakfast and drinks as covered by the total price.

Better:

✅ 这个价格包括早餐和饮料。

Zhège jiàgé bāokuò zǎocān hé yǐnliào.

This price includes breakfast and drinks.

包括 is also natural when listing the items covered by a package. This is an overlap between the two words, rather than a right-versus-wrong distinction.

Mistake 2

❌ 这句话包括很深的意思。
Zhè jù huà bāokuò hěn shēn de yìsi.

Better:

✅ 这句话包含很深的意思。

Zhè jù huà bāohán hěn shēn de yìsi.

This sentence contains a deep meaning.

Because we are talking about meaning inside the sentence, 包含 is better.

9. Quick memory tip

Think of 包括 as “including these items.”

Think of 包含 as “containing something inside.”

So you can remember it like this:

包括 = list
包含 = inside meaning/content

For example:

A course 包括 different lessons.
A lesson 包含 useful knowledge.

一个课程包括不同的课。

Yí ge kèchéng bāokuò bùtóng de kè.

A course includes different lessons.

一节课包含有用的知识。

Yì jié kè bāohán yǒuyòng de zhīshi.

A lesson contains useful knowledge.

Final Summary

Use 包括 (bāokuò) when you list included items, people, services, or parts.

Use 包含 (bāohán) when something contains meaning, emotion, information, knowledge, or inner content.

Both can mean “include,” but in natural Chinese, choosing the right one makes your sentence sound much clearer and more native. 😊✨