吃 (chī) - to eat & to consume
吃 · chī
to eat;
to consume;
to have a meal;
to suffer;
to endure;
to absorb;
to exhaust
to eatto consumeto have a meal
Usage highlights
to eatto eat a mealto eat fruitto suffer a lossto be surprisedto bear hardship
Usage & contexts
Examples
- I want to eat dinner (吃晚饭).
- He is eating an apple (吃苹果).
- This medicine is hard to swallow (这药很难吃).
- Don't suffer a loss (不要吃亏).
Collocations
- to eat(吃饭)
- to eat a meal(吃饭)
- to eat fruit(吃水果)
- to suffer a loss(吃亏)
- to be surprised(吃惊)
- to bear hardship(吃苦)
Idioms
- Unable to eat and sleep in peace(吃不下饭，睡不着觉)
- To live off others(吃闲饭)
- To be unable to bear the hardship(吃不了兜着走)
- To eat bitterness(吃苦耐劳)
- To eat soft but not hard(吃软不吃硬)
Cultural background
FAQ- One of the most fundamental characters in Chinese, representing the basic human need for nourishment.
- Extends metaphorically to various aspects of life including suffering, consumption, and absorption.
- Commonly used in Chinese greetings like 'Have you eaten?' (你吃了吗?) as a form of casual问候.