How to Write 括 (kuò) — Meaning “to include; to enclose”

Imagine your hand (扌) holding a tongue (舌) inside a box, because 括 means "to include" or "to enclose." This visual of a hand enclosing a tongue helps you recall both the shape and the meaning.

Write the hand radical 扌 first with a vertical stroke that extends down, then add the right part 舌 starting with a horizontal stroke at the top. Be careful not to make the right side too wide; keep the whole character balanced and compact, as beginners often stretch the 舌 part too far to the right.

Unlike the rare character 㧜 (which has the same outline but is seldom used), 括 is common and means "to include." Compared to 扭 (niǔ, meaning "to twist"), 括 has a tongue (舌) on the right instead of a 丑 (chǒu) component, and their meanings are unrelated—扭 involves twisting motion while 括 involves enclosing.

You will see 括 in everyday words like 包括 (bāo kuò, to include), 括号 (kuò hào, brackets), and 概括 (gài kuò, to summarize). For example, when writing a list you might say "价格包括税" (the price includes tax), or when using punctuation you put words inside 括号 (parentheses).

Common words containing 括 include: 包括 (bāo kuò) — to include; to consist of; 括号 (kuò hào) — brackets; parentheses; 概括 (gài kuò) — to summarize; to generalize.