Dabao
/ˌdɑː ˈbaʊ/noun
In Singapore English, to pack food for takeaway or order food to go.
Did you know?Dabao comes from Mandarin 打包 (dǎbāo), where 包 means “bundle” or “package,” a character historically associated with enclosing something inside.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
包
“To wrap, contain, or enclose”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
包
“To bundle or package”
Modern Mandarin
Mandarin
打包 (dǎbāo)
“To pack up or package, especially food for takeaway”
20th Century
Singapore English
dabao
“To pack food for takeaway; to order food to go”
Modern English
Singapore English
dabao
“To take away or package food”
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