# 包罗万象

bāo luó wàn xiàng

Encompass an immense range of things

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Include every kind of phenomenon

**Traditional Chinese:** 包羅萬象

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe extremely broad coverage or variety.

Often rhetorical; rarely literally everything.

## Understanding the expression

The expression imagines a collection large enough to include all the varied phenomena of the world. It can praise an encyclopedia, a rich exhibition, or the range of material on a platform. Its scale is deliberately expansive. Breadth does not necessarily mean depth or accuracy, however: a collection may cover many subjects superficially. Use the phrase for striking variety, and explain narrower limits when completeness matters to a reader.

## Examples

这部百科全书包罗万象。

### Traditional Chinese

這部百科全書包羅萬象。

zhè bù bǎi kē quán shū bāo luó wàn xiàng 。

This encyclopedia covers an immense range of subjects.

市场里的商品包罗万象。

### Traditional Chinese

市場裡的商品包羅萬象。

shì chǎng lǐ de shāng pǐn bāo luó wàn xiàng 。

The market offers an extraordinary variety of goods.

她的收藏包罗万象。

### Traditional Chinese

她的收藏包羅萬象。

tā de shōu cáng bāo luó wàn xiàng 。

Her collection encompasses all sorts of things.

论坛话题包罗万象，但质量不一。

### Traditional Chinese

論壇話題包羅萬象，但質量不一。

lùn tán huà tí bāo luó wàn xiàng ， dàn zhì liàng bù yī 。

The forum’s topics are wide ranging, but their quality varies.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%8C%85%E7%BE%85%E8%90%AC%E8%B1%A1)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=742&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [比比皆是 bǐ bǐ jiē shì Be found everywhere ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bi-bi-jie-shi)

- [标新立异 biāo xīn lì yì Assert originality through unconventional ideas ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/biao-xin-li-yi)

- [别出心裁 bié chū xīn cái Create an original and thoughtful approach ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bie-chu-xin-cai)

- [别开生面 bié kāi shēng miàn Create a fresh and distinctive experience ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bie-kai-sheng-mian)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 抱残守缺 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bao-can-shou-que) [Next idiom 暴殄天物 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bao-tian-tian-wu)