‘兜揽’ is a verb meaning to proactively take on responsibilities, tasks, or duties—often before being asked or assigned. The character 兜 (dōu) originally means 'to hold up', 'to contain', or 'to gather in', evoking the image of scooping something up; 揽 (lǎn) means 'to grasp', 'to take in', or 'to assume', reinforcing the sense of active acceptance. Together, they convey a deliberate, often enthusiastic or conscientious, willingness to shoulder work or obligations.

This word is commonly used in workplace, team, or family contexts where someone volunteers for extra duties—like organizing an event, resolving a problem, or covering for a colleague. It carries a positive connotation of reliability and initiative, though overuse may imply overcommitment. It’s more formal than casual speech but frequent in spoken and written Mandarin, especially in professional or mature interpersonal settings.