bāozhuāng 包装 N package, packaging 包装材料 bāozhuāng cáiliào packaging material
bāozi 包子 [suffix: 包 bun + 子 nominal suffix] N steamed bun with filling ■ 我早饭吃了两个包 子。
Wǒ zǎofàn chīle liǎng ge bāozi. I had two steamed buns for breakfast.
bāo 胞 ADJ born of the same parents
báo 薄 ADJ thin, flimsy (ANTONYM 厚 hòu) ■ 天冷 了，这条被子太薄，要换一条厚一点儿的。Tiān
lěng le, zhè tiáo bèizi tài báo, yào huàn yì tiáo hòu yìdiǎnr de. It’s getting cold. This blanket is too
thin. You need a thicker one.
NOTE: See note on 薄 bó.
bǎo 宝 TRAD 寶 N treasure
bǎobèi 宝贝 [comp: 宝 treasure + 贝 shellfish] N treasured object, treasure 小宝贝 xiǎo bǎobèi (endearment
for children) darling, dear
bǎoguì 宝贵 [comp: 宝 precious + 贵 valuable] ADJ valuable, precious ■ 世界上什么最宝贵？Shìjiè
shang shénme zuì bǎoguì? What is the most valuable thing in the world? ■ 我不想浪费你们的宝
贵 时间，就直话直说了。Wǒ bù xiǎng làngfèi nǐmen de bǎoguì shíjiān, jiù zhí huà zhí shuō le. I
don’t want to waste your precious time, and will say what I have to say without mincing words.
bǎo 保 V conserve, protect ■ 这房子用了新材料， 特别保暖。Zhè fángzi yòngle xīn cáiliào, tèbié
bǎo nuǎn. This house uses a new material that is particularly good at keeping the house warm.
bǎo’ān 保安 N security guard
bǎochí 保持 [comp: 保 conserve + 持 maintain] V keep, maintain ■ 他去年在学校运动会上得了长 跑
冠军，今年能保持吗？Tā qùnián zài xuéxiào yùndònghuì shang déle chángpǎo guànjūn, jīnnián
néng bǎochí ma? He was the champion in long-distance running at the school sports meet last
year. Can he maintain it this year? (→ Can he defend his position this year?)
bǎocún 保存 [comp: 保 conserve + 存 keep] V keep, save
bǎoguǎn 保管 [comp: 保 conserve + 管 take charge of] V take charge of 保管员 bǎoguǎnyuán guardian,
custodian
bǎohù 保护 [comp: 保 conserve + 护 protect] V protect, safeguard, conserve ■ 这片大森林一定要 保护
好，不能开发为旅游区。Zhè piàn dà sēnlín yídìng yào bǎohù hǎo, bù néng kāifā wéi lǚyóuqū.
This vast forest must be conserved and mustn’t be developed into a tourist area.
bǎoliú 保留 [comp: 保 conserve + 留 retain] V retain, reserve ■ 这张飞机票我们给你保留三天。Zhè
zhāng fēijī piào wǒmen gěi nǐ bǎoliú sān tiān. We’ll reserve this air ticket for you for three days. ■
你可 以保留自己的意见，但是大家的决定不能违反。Nǐ kěyǐ bǎoliú zìjǐ de yìjiàn, dànshì dàjiā
de juédìng bù néng wéifǎn. You can have your own opinions, but the collective decision must not
be opposed.
bǎomì 保密 [v+compl: 保 conserve + 密 secret, confidential] V keep ... secret 保密文件 bǎomì wénjiàn
classified document ■ 这件事一定要保密。Zhè jiàn shì yīdìng yào bǎomì. This matter must be
kept secret.
bǎomǔ 保姆 [modif: 保 protect + 姆 woman] N (children’s) nurse, nanny 当保姆 dāng bǎomǔ work as a
nanny
bǎoshǒu 保守 [comp: 保 protect + 守 observe, abide by] I V guard, keep ■ 你能保守一个秘密吗？ Nǐ
néng bǎoshǒu yī ge mìmì ma? Can you keep a secret? II ADJ conservative ■ 一个人年纪大了，往往
会 保守。Yí gè rén niánjì dà le, wǎngwǎng huì bǎoshǒu. As one gets old, one tends to be
conservative.
bǎowèi 保卫 [comp: 保 protect + 卫 defend] V defend ■ 当外敌入侵时，每个人都应该保卫自己 的
国家。 Dāng wài dí rùqīn shí, měi ge rén dōu yīnggāi bǎowèi zìjǐ de guójiā. When an enemy
invades our country, everybody should defend it.
bǎoxiǎn 保险 [comp: 保 protect + 险 risk] I ADJ safe, risk-free II V & N insure; insurance 保险单 bǎoxiǎndān
insurance policy / 保险费 bǎoxiǎnfèi insurance premium / 保险公司 bǎoxiǎn gōngsī insurance company
bǎoyǎng 保养 [comp: 保 protect + 养 maintain] V 1 take good care of one’s health 2 maintain
(automobiles, machines, etc.), keep in good repair 车辆保养 chēliàng bǎoyǎng vehicle maintenance
bǎozhàng 保障 [comp: 保 protect + 障 defense] V secure, insure, guarantee 社会保障 shèhuì bǎozhàng social