---
title: "Hongbao Meaning: 红包 (hóngbāo) Means “red envelope”"
description: "红包 (traditional 紅包, hóngbāo) means “red envelope (gift of money); digital red packet (on apps)”. Hear its tones, see what 红 and 包 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/hongbao"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 红包 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

红包 hóngbāo

## red envelope (gift of money); digital red packet (on apps)

## It can also mean

- cash voucher; discount coupon (shopping apps)
- bribe; kickback

## Its characters

1. 红 hóng red
2. 包 bāo package

## In a sentence

过年时奶奶给了我一个红包。 Grandma gave me a red envelope at New Year.

家人也给小朋友**红包**，红包里是钱！

From [中国小朋友喜欢的两天 · Chinese culture for kids](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/chinese-culture-for-kids#library-word-83-85)

[More about 红包](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%BA%A2%E5%8C%85)

## More words with 红 or 包

- [包裹 bāoguǒ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baoguo)
- [包含 bāohán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baohan)
- [包括 bāokuò](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baokuo)
- [包容 bāoróng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baorong)
- [包围 bāowéi](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baowei)
- [包装 bāozhuāng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baozhuang)
- [包子 bāozi](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baozi)
- [背包 bēibāo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/beibao)
- [承包 chéngbāo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengbao)
- [打包 dǎbāo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dabao)

## Keep 红包 for Review

A free account keeps it, and Review brings it back just before you’d forget it.

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