family heirloom/treasure; secret; one's best skill
Meanings
3 senses · 9 examplesnoun
long-unused family heirloom; most valuable possession
dialectLiterally refers to items stored at the very bottom of a cloth bundle (包袱), representing something precious and kept hidden for a long time.
The old lady took out that jade bracelet from the very bottom of the trunk; it's our family's most treasured heirloom.
This bottle of aged liquor is Grandpa's most prized possession; he's always been reluctant to drink it.
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No one would touch the family's hidden treasures unless absolutely necessary.
noun
secret; privacy; something kept hidden
dialectOften used in the phrase 抖包袱底儿 (dǒu bāofu dǐr), meaning to reveal a secret or air one's dirty laundry.
When the couple argued, they almost spilled all the family secrets.
He drank too much and started revealing his own secrets.
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Stop asking; that's their private affair, not convenient to talk about.
noun
one's best skill; trump card; ace up one's sleeve
dialectAlso often used with 抖搂 (dǒu lou), as in 抖搂包袱底儿, meaning to show off one's unique skills or final, most impressive trick.
At the final moment of the match, the veteran finally pulled out his ace in the hole and won in a comeback.
This dish is Chef Zhang's signature skill; he doesn't make it lightly.
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Want to learn his best skill? That's a unique craft he's practiced hard for decades.