Both 包含 (bāohán) and 包括 (bāokuò) can mean “include.”
So why does Chinese need two words? 🤔
Here’s the easiest way to feel the difference:
包括 (bāokuò) → focuses on which people or things are included in a group, range, or list
包含 (bāohán) → focuses on what content, information, meaning, or elements are contained in something
This is a useful rule of thumb—not a strict rule. Sometimes both words are possible.
1. 包括 (bāokuò): What’s Included?
Use 包括 when you are talking about the members, items, or parts that fall within a larger group or range.
A useful way to think about it is:
whole → members / items
这次活动包括三个部分。
Zhè cì huódòng bāokuò sān ge bùfen.
This activity includes three parts.
课程费用包括教材费。
Kèchéng fèiyòng bāokuò jiàocái fèi.
The course fee includes the cost of the teaching materials.
我喜欢很多运动，包括游泳和跑步。
Wǒ xǐhuan hěn duō yùndòng, bāokuò yóuyǒng hé pǎobù.
I enjoy many sports, including swimming and running.
Notice the last example.
When English uses “including…” to introduce examples from a larger group, 包括 is usually the natural choice.
💡 Think:
包括 = Which ones are included?
2. 包含 (bāohán): What Does It Contain?
包含 often focuses on the content, meaning, information, ingredients, or elements within something.
Think:
something → what it contains
这份报告包含很多重要信息。
Zhè fèn bàogào bāohán hěn duō zhòngyào xìnxī.
This report contains a lot of important information.
这句话包含两层意思。
Zhè jù huà bāohán liǎng céng yìsi.
This sentence contains two layers of meaning.
这种食品不包含花生。
Zhè zhǒng shípǐn bù bāohán huāshēng.
This food does not contain peanuts.
With 包含, common ideas include:
内容 — content
信息 — information
意思 / 意义 — meaning
成分 — ingredient / component
因素 — factor
💡 Think:
包含 = What’s in it?
3. Compare Them Side by Side
Look at these two sentences:
这门课程包括十个单元。
Zhè mén kèchéng bāokuò shí ge dānyuán.
This course includes ten units.
Here, we are identifying the parts of the course.
→ 包括 sounds natural.
Now compare:
这门课程包含很多实用内容。
Zhè mén kèchéng bāohán hěn duō shíyòng nèiróng.
This course contains a lot of practical content.
Here, the focus is on the content within the course.
→ 包含 sounds natural.
So the difference is mainly one of focus:
📋 包括 → members, items, scope
📦 包含 → content, meaning, elements
4. Sometimes Both Are Correct
Here’s an important point:
包含 and 包括 are not complete opposites.
Sometimes both can be used naturally.
For example:
这个价格包括早餐。
Zhège jiàgé bāokuò zǎocān.
The price includes breakfast.
这个价格包含早餐。
Zhège jiàgé bāohán zǎocān.
The price includes breakfast.
Both are natural.
The difference is subtle:
With 包括, breakfast is viewed as one of the things covered by the price.
With 包含, breakfast is viewed as something already contained in the total price.
In contexts involving prices, packages, services, or components, this kind of overlap is common.
So don’t panic if both seem possible. 😄
5. A Very Useful Pattern: 包括……在内
There is a common pattern that strongly prefers 包括:
包括 + someone/something + 在内
It means:
including…
包括我在内，大家都同意这个计划。
Bāokuò wǒ zài nèi, dàjiā dōu tóngyì zhège jìhuà.
Everyone, including me, agrees with this plan.
Here, 包含 normally cannot replace 包括.
✅ 包括我在内
❌ 包含我在内
This is one pattern worth memorizing.
6. Another Common Expression: 其中包括……
You’ll also see 其中包括 (qízhōng bāokuò) very often.
It means:
among them are… / including…
我们讨论了几个问题，其中包括时间和费用。
Wǒmen tǎolùn le jǐ ge wèntí, qízhōng bāokuò shíjiān hé fèiyòng.
We discussed several issues, including time and cost.
Again, 包括 introduces specific members of a larger group.
7. Don’t Memorize Them as Two English Words
A common mistake is learning:
包括 = include
包含 = contain
That is helpful at first, but it isn’t the whole story.
Why?
Because 包含 can also be translated as “include,” and sometimes 包括 and 包含 are both possible.
Instead, remember their typical focus:
包括 → Which people or things are included?
包含 → What content or elements are contained in it?
That will help you choose much more naturally.
Quick Summary ✨
包括 (bāokuò) usually focuses on members, items, parts, or scope.
Think:
📋 What’s included in the group or list?
It is especially common with expressions such as:
包括……在内
其中包括……
A，包括B和C
包含 (bāohán) usually focuses on content, information, meaning, ingredients, or elements within something.
Think:
📦 What does it contain?
And remember:
They sometimes overlap.
You don’t need to force a difference when native speakers naturally use both.
One sentence to remember:
包括 tells you what belongs in the group; 包含 tells you what is inside the content. 😊