包罗万象
包罗万象 (bāo luó wàn xiàng) literally means “encompass all phenomena” and expresses “all-inclusive”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bao luo wan xiang, bao luo wan xiang,包罗万象 meaning, 包罗万象 in english
All-inclusive
Pronunciation: bāo luó wàn xiàng Literal meaning: Encompass all phenomena
Origin & Usage
To wrap up (包) and net (罗) the ten thousand (万) phenomena (象). 万象 is a set expression for the totality of appearances in the world, and 罗 is a fine-meshed net, so the claim is not merely of breadth but of catching everything, including the small things. It is used of encyclopaedias, museums, sprawling novels and very long meetings. Applied to something that ought to have been selective it becomes a criticism, since containing everything and having a point are different achievements.
Examples
English: "His philosophy embraces all aspects of life, making him a well-rounded individual."
Chinese: 他的哲学包罗万象，使他成为一个全面发展的人。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
盲人摸象
máng rén mō xiàng
Mistaking partial knowledge for complete wisdom
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门可罗雀
mén kě luó què
Deserted; hardly a visitor
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天罗地网
tiān luó dì wǎng
Inescapable net; dragnet
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万马奔腾
wàn mǎ bēn téng
Powerful unstoppable momentum
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千变万化
qiān biàn wàn huà
Ever-changing; constantly varying
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千山万水
qiān shān wàn shuǐ
A long and arduous journey
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日理万机
rì lǐ wàn jī
Diligent governance
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万紫千红
wàn zǐ qiān hóng
Diverse and flourishing
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 包罗万象 mean in English?
包罗万象 (bāo luó wàn xiàng) literally translates to “Encompass all phenomena” and is used to express “All-inclusive”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 包罗万象 used?
Situation: His philosophy embraces all aspects of life, making him a well-rounded individual.
What is the pinyin for 包罗万象?
The pinyin pronunciation for 包罗万象 is “bāo luó wàn xiàng”.