‘背包’ literally combines ‘背’ (bēi), meaning ‘to carry on one’s back’, and ‘包’ (bāo), meaning ‘bag’ or ‘pack’. Together, it refers to a bag designed to be worn on the back using shoulder straps — what English speakers call a ‘backpack’. As a noun, it’s the most common term for this everyday item in both formal and informal contexts. It’s widely used across age groups, especially by students, hikers, and commuters.

As a verb, ‘背包’ is less common but appears in compound forms like ‘背包旅行’ (bēibāo lǚxíng, ‘backpacking travel’) or when used transitively with an object: ‘他背包去学校’ (He carries his backpack to school). Note that as a standalone verb meaning ‘to carry a backpack’, it’s usually followed by a directional complement (e.g., ‘背上包’) or embedded in a larger phrase — it rarely stands alone without context.