餐 (cān) - meal & to eat

餐Tone 1

cān ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

餐 · cān

meal;

to eat;

food

mealto eatfood

Usage highlights

breakfastlunchdinnermealrestaurantdining hall

Synonyms

  • 食— to eat; food
  • 吃— to eat
  • 饭— cooked rice; meal

Antonyms

  • 饿— hungry
  • 饥— famine; starvation

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We had a delicious meal (美餐).
  • He is eating breakfast (吃早餐).
  • This restaurant serves Western food (西餐).
  • Let's have dinner together (共进晚餐).

Collocations

  • breakfast(早餐)
  • lunch(午餐)
  • dinner(晚餐)
  • meal(餐饭)
  • restaurant(餐馆)
  • dining hall(餐厅)

Idioms

  • To eat the fruits of one's labor(餐风饮露)
  • To live a hard, itinerant life(餐风宿露)
  • To work hard and live frugally(餐松饮涧)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 餐 embodies the central role of communal eating in Chinese culture.
  • Meal times are often structured around family gatherings and social bonding.
  • The complexity of the character reflects the importance and ritual aspects of dining.

FAQ