"to eat" or "food" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 184)
unknown, 3 strokes, radical 饣, Very Hard
shí(shi2) T2
1food; to eat
2"to eat" or "food" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 184)
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March 24, 2026
饣(飠)shí(shi2)
The character 饣 (shí) is a radical that signifies food or eating. It appears in various characters related to food, such as 饭 (fàn, rice or meal) and 餐 (cān, meal or dish), indicating its core meaning in the context of nourishment and eating.
Strokes3Radical饣Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food plays a central role in social gatherings and family life. The inclusion of the radical 饣 in various characters reflects the cultural significance placed on meals and communal eating experiences.
Memory Tip
Imagine a plate of food, with delicious dishes piled high that you can't wait to eat. The character 饣 looks like a plate with food on it, and the sound 'shí' can remind you of the sound you make when you enjoy a satisfying meal — 'shhh, this is good!'
Meanings of 饣
shí(shi2)
1food; to eat
2"to eat" or "food" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 184)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 饣
饣Simplified
飠Traditional
3Strokes
饣Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 饣
Podcast: 饣
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AI Study Notes for 饣
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a plate of food, with delicious dishes piled high that you can't wait to eat. The character 饣 looks like a plate with food on it, and the sound 'shí' can remind you of the sound you make when you enjoy a satisfying meal — 'shhh, this is good!'
Usage Notes
As a radical, 饣 is often found at the beginning of characters related to eating or food. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar radicals. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but primarily in everyday language.
HSK Study Tips
While 饣 is not listed as a standalone word in the HSK vocabulary, it is important for understanding related HSK words like 饭 (fàn) and 餐 (cān). Students should focus on recognizing how this radical forms a part of more complex characters at HSK levels 1-3.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food plays a central role in social gatherings and family life. The inclusion of the radical 饣 in various characters reflects the cultural significance placed on meals and communal eating experiences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly try to use 饣 as a standalone word, which it is not. Instead, remember that it serves as a component of other food-related characters, such as 饭 (fàn) for rice or meal.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 饣
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Cultural Notes for 饣
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, food plays a central role in social gatherings and family life. The inclusion of the radical 饣 in various characters reflects the cultural significance placed on meals and communal eating experiences.
Word Family of 饣
Words Containing This Character1
饣shí"to eat" or "food" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 184)飠
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 饣 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 饣
It indicates that the character relates to food or eating.
No, 饣 is a radical and must be part of a larger character related to food.
You can think of the sound 'shí' as a reminder of the satisfying sound you make when enjoying a delicious meal.
