大包大揽

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: dà bāo dà lǎn
• English Translation: To take everything on oneself (monopolizing tasks)
• Idiom Composition: 「大」（Greatly or completely; used here for emphasis.）＋「包」（To undertake or wrap up, referring to taking on a task.）＋「揽」（To take on or pull toward oneself, implying monopolizing or seizing control.）
• Meaning: To take on all responsibilities, tasks, or problems by oneself or within a single organization. While it can imply a strong sense of responsibility, it is frequently used negatively to describe someone who takes on more than they can handle or refuses to delegate.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「大包大揽」 contains the following nuances:

• Comprehensive Undertaking: By repeating the character 大 (dà), the idiom emphasizes the vast scope and extreme degree of the undertaking. It depicts a scene where someone takes on everything indiscriminately.
• Responsibility vs. Over-confidence: While it can occasionally reflect a strong sense of duty, modern usage leans heavily toward criticism, implying that the person is over-committing or acting autocratically.

3. Usage

「大包大揽」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Criticism and Advice: Used to advise someone against taking on too much work or interfering to the point of hindering others' independence.
  • Example:「作为管理者，你要学会放权，不要事事都大包大揽。」
    （As a manager, you need to learn to delegate; don't take everything on yourself for every little thing.）
• Over-promising: Describes an irresponsible way of promising to handle everything without a realistic basis for doing so.
  • Example:「他还没了解情况就大包大揽，结果现在没法收场了。」
    （He took everything on himself before even understanding the situation, and now he has no way to fix the mess.）
• Organizational Over-interference: Used in contexts criticizing a government or parent organization for over-managing things that should be left to the market or subordinates.
  • Example:「政府不应该对企业的经营大包大揽。」
    （The government should not over-interfere in the operations of private enterprises.）

Additional Examples:

1. 家务事不能全由妈妈一个人大包大揽，大家都要分担。
   （Household chores shouldn't be taken on entirely by Mom; everyone needs to share the load.）
2. 这种大包大揽的做法已经不适应现代企业的管理模式了。
   （This approach of monopolizing all tasks no longer fits the management model of modern companies.）
3. 既然你当初大包大揽地答应下来，现在就得负责到底。
   （Since you took full responsibility for it back then, you must see it through to the end now.）
4. 别总是大包大揽，有时候也要让别人有机会锻炼。
   （Don't always do everything yourself; sometimes you need to give others a chance to gain experience.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Colloquial Nature: 大包大揽 (dà bāo dà lǎn) is a relatively informal expression commonly found in daily conversation and news commentary rather than formal classical literature.
• Shift in Values: In historical contexts or traditional family structures, a leader who would 大包大揽 (dà bāo dà lǎn) might have been seen as a reliable provider. However, in modern society, it is often criticized as a barrier to efficiency and individual autonomy.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 独断专行 (dú duàn zhuān xíng): To act autocratically without listening to others' opinions.
  • 一手包办 (yī shǒu bāo bàn): To take care of everything single-handedly; to monopolize the handling of a matter.
  • 事必躬亲 (shì bì gōng qīn): To handle everything personally.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 各司其职 (gè sī qí zhí): Each person performs their own specific duty or role.
  • 分工合作 (fēn gōng hé zuò): To collaborate through a clear division of labor.
  • 袖手旁观 (xiù shǒu páng guān): To stand by with folded arms, doing nothing to help.link
  • 无所作为 (wú suǒ zuò wéi): To accomplish nothing; to be inactive and make no contribution.link

6. Summary

The idiom 大包大揽 (dà bāo dà lǎn) describes the act of taking complete control or responsibility for a situation. In modern contexts, it often carries a critical tone, suggesting that a person is **over-committing**, meddling in others' affairs, or failing to empower others through delegation.