chī: 吃 - to eat, to have a meal, to suffer

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Summary: Discover the true meaning of 吃 (chī), one of the most essential verbs in Mandarin Chinese. While its core definition is “to eat,” this single character is the gateway to understanding Chinese culture, social interactions, and even complex abstract ideas. From the common greeting “你吃了吗? (Nǐ chī le ma?)” which means “Have you eaten?,” to expressing hardship with “吃苦 (chīkǔ),” this page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners. Learn how 吃 (chī) is used in everyday conversation, its cultural significance, and the many idioms that make it one of the most versatile words in the language.

Pinyin (with tone marks): chī

Part of Speech: Verb

HSK Level: HSK 1

Concise Definition: To put food into the mouth, chew, and swallow it; to consume a meal.

In a Nutshell: At its heart, 吃 (chī) is the direct equivalent of “to eat.” It's one of the first and most important verbs you'll learn. However, its significance goes far beyond the dinner plate. In Chinese culture, where food is central to life (“民以食为天 - The people consider food as heaven”), the act of eating is deeply linked to socializing, relationship building, and showing care. Therefore, 吃 is not just about physical nourishment but also about social and emotional connection.

吃 (chī) is a phono-semantic compound character, meaning it's made of one part for meaning and one for sound.

Radical 口 (kǒu): The component on the left is the “mouth” radical. It signals that the character's meaning is related to an action performed with the mouth.

Phonetic Component 乞 (qǐ): The component on the right originally meant “to beg” and provides the phonetic sound. While the modern pronunciation has shifted from `qǐ` to `chī`, its function is to suggest the word's pronunciation.

Together, the “mouth” radical and the sound component create a character that visually represents an action of the mouth.

The importance of 吃 (chī) in China cannot be overstated. It's rooted in a long history where famine and food scarcity were real, recurring threats. This has elevated food and the act of eating to a central pillar of the culture.

The Ultimate Greeting: The phrase “你吃了吗？” (Nǐ chī le ma?) - “Have you eaten?” - is a classic Chinese greeting. While less common among younger, urban generations, it's still widely understood as a gesture of care and friendliness, equivalent to the Western “How are you?” It's a way to check on someone's well-being.

Building Relationships (关系 - guānxi): In the West, one might “network” over drinks. In China, relationships—both personal and professional—are built and solidified around the dinner table (`饭桌 fànzhuō`). An invitation to 吃 (chī) a meal together is often a significant social gesture. Business deals are frequently closed over elaborate dinners, and refusing an invitation to eat can be seen as a rejection of a budding relationship. The shared act of eating fosters a sense of closeness and mutual obligation.

Comparison to Western “Let's Grab a Bite”: In American culture, “grabbing a bite” or “doing lunch” can sometimes be a casual, low-commitment affair. In China, while casual meals exist, a formal invitation to 吃饭 (chī fàn), especially from a superior or business partner, carries more weight. It is an event of social and sometimes strategic importance, not just a quick refuel.

吃 (chī) is an incredibly versatile verb used in literal, figurative, and idiomatic ways.

This is its most common, everyday use. It's almost always paired with an object (the food being eaten).

e.g., `吃饭 (chī fàn)` - to eat a meal, `吃苹果 (chī píngguǒ)` - to eat an apple, `吃面条 (chī miàntiáo)` - to eat noodles.

吃 is used to describe “consuming” an abstract, often negative, experience.

`吃苦 (chīkǔ)` - lit. “eat bitterness”; to endure hardship.

`吃亏 (chīkuī)` - lit. “eat a loss”; to suffer a setback or be taken advantage of.

`吃力 (chìlì)` - lit. “eat effort”; for a task to be strenuous or difficult.

吃 can describe a person's social situation or relationships with others.

`吃香 (chīxiāng)` - lit. “eat fragrance”; to be popular, well-liked, or in high demand.

`吃得开 (chīdekāi)` - lit. “able to eat openly”; to be well-connected and able to get things done smoothly.

`吃醋 (chīcù)` - lit. “eat vinegar”; to be jealous, especially in a romantic context.

吃饭 (chī fàn) - The most common collocation of 吃, meaning “to eat a meal.” The default activity.

喝 (hē) - To drink. The direct counterpart to 吃 for liquids.

食物 (shíwù) - The formal noun for “food” or “foodstuff.”

好吃 (hǎochī) - The adjective for “delicious” (literally “good to eat”).

难吃 (nánchī) - The adjective for “tastes bad” (literally “difficult to eat”).

小吃 (xiǎochī) - “Small eats”; refers to snacks or street food, a major part of Chinese food culture.

吃货 (chīhuò) - A popular, modern slang term for a “foodie.” It has a lighthearted and slightly self-deprecating tone.

吃苦 (chīkǔ) - A common idiom meaning to endure hardship or toil.

吃醋 (chīcù) - The standard idiom for being jealous in a romantic context.

吃亏 (chīkuī) - A common idiom for suffering a loss or being taken advantage of.