包括 and 包含 - which is better version

[Scoobyqueen]

I am writing an invitation for a conference and want to write attendees include xxx, xxx.

I think 包含 would be more formal. Can anyone let me know if this is the case and also if they are direct synonyms.

Cheers in advance.

[muyongshi]

包括 would be the correct usage here. 包含 doesn't typically get used with people.

[fengyixiao]

muyongshi is right,包含 doesn't typically get used with people.

Example 1:

参加此次活动的著名专家包括chongqing university的各知名宿舍舍长及一些著名政治及社会活动家（如民主湖部分斑竹等）。与此同时大会还邀请了100余名学有所成的留学海外的和已归国的华人专家、国内外几十家风险投资公司和100余家国内外著名企业管理者。

Example 2:(Just list out the attendees)

三、大会邀请对象

1、需求人才的知名跨国公司、国有控股企业、高新技术企业、三资企业、民营企业、科研院所、大中专院校等各类用人单位。

2、省内及周边省份具有丰富工作经验的各层次人才。

3、省内及周边省份各类技能性、实用性人才。

4、省内及周边省份应往届大中专毕业生（含职高、中职、技校生）、毕业研究生。

5、省内及周边省份科研院所、事业单位和大中型企业欲交流的各类专业技术人才、中高级管理人才及高级技工。

[trien27]

包括, bao1 kuo4 = "to include"

包含, bao1 han2 = "to contain": like contents of a package, etc...

包函, bao1 han2 = used for apologies, as in "多多包函" or "请多多包函".

Edited September 5, 2009 at 03:33 PM by trien27
deletion of surplus info.

[skylee]

包函, bao1 han2 = used for apologies, as in "多多包函" or "请多多包函".

I think it should be 包涵, not 包函.

[chenpv]

The hand radical in 括 suggest the 'contain' refers to hold-in-one's-arm type of contain, whereas the mouth radical in 含 suggest the 'contain' refers to 'keep-in-one's-mouth' type of contain. Thus, the latter is always used to describe the inseparable inner connection of parts in terms of entity. Anyway, it's just my crude understanding.

[oliver815]

I think 包括 is right to use here, personally, I think 包括 has the meaning of "include" and 包含 has meaning a bit like "be made of", they are different meaning words, maybe you can find better answer in a dictionary, good luck.

[yan420honggg]

包含 is absolutely wrong。。。。。And depends on the context you can avoid using 包括.Don't just tranlate English to Chinese.