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伙食 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
伙食huǒshífoodHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #16736, Very Hard
伙食huǒshímealsHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #16736, Very Hard
huǒshí(huo3shi2)huo shi T3
  1. 1food
  2. 2meals
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March 24, 2026

伙食huǒshí(huo3shi2)

伙食 (huǒshí) refers to food or meals, particularly in the context of communal dining or a shared eating arrangement, such as in a cafeteria or dormitory. It emphasizes the collective aspect of dining, often used in situations where meals are provided for a group, like in schools or military settings.

Strokes15Frequency#16736DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In many Chinese schools and workplaces, communal dining is common, reflecting a cultural value of sharing and community. The concept of 伙食 is integral to fostering relationships and camaraderie among peers in these environments.

Memory tip

Imagine a group of friends (伙, huǒ) sharing a hearty meal (食, shí) together. The character 伙 looks like a group of people gathered around a table, and the character 食 resembles a plate of food. Together, they create a vivid picture of communal eating.

Meanings of 伙食

huǒshí(huo3shi2)
1food
2meals
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 伙食

伙食Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 伙食

Quick Contrast

餐饮 (cānyǐn) refers to food and drink services, typically in a more commercial context, while 伙食 (huǒshí) emphasizes communal meals provided for a group.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 伙食; it can easily be confused with other similar-sounding words. This term is generally informal and is most commonly used in contexts involving group meals, so avoid using it in very formal situations. Common collocations include '伙食费用' (meal expenses) and '伙食团' (meal group).

HSK Study Tips

While 伙食 is not formally listed in HSK levels, it connects with food-related vocabulary that can be found in HSK 2 and 3, such as 吃 (to eat) and 饭 (rice/meal). Students should focus on using 伙食 in sentences that describe group dining experiences to reinforce its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 伙食 with 饭 (fàn), thinking they mean the same thing. However, 饭 refers specifically to rice or meals in general, while 伙食 emphasizes shared dining experiences. For example, saying '我今天吃伙食' (I eat food today) is incorrect; it should be '我今天吃饭' (I eat rice/meals today).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 伙食

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Component characters

伙huǒcompanion; group; partner
HSK 56 strokes亻
View full entry
食shíto eat
9 strokes食
View full entry

How to say food in Chinese

“food” in Chinese is伙食huǒshí

伙食 (huǒshí) refers to food or meals, particularly in the context of communal dining or a shared eating arrangement, such as in a cafeteria or dormitory. It emphasizes the collective aspect of dining, often used in situations where meals are provided for a group, like in schools or military settings.

When to use 伙食

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 伙食; it can easily be confused with other similar-sounding words. This term is generally informal and is most commonly used in contexts involving group meals, so avoid using it in very formal situations. Common collocations include '伙食费用' (meal expenses) and '伙食团' (meal group).

伙食 or something close to it

餐饮 (cānyǐn) refers to food and drink services, typically in a more commercial context, while 伙食 (huǒshí) emphasizes communal meals provided for a group.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 伙食 with 饭 (fàn), thinking they mean the same thing. However, 饭 refers specifically to rice or meals in general, while 伙食 emphasizes shared dining experiences. For example, saying '我今天吃伙食' (I eat food today) is incorrect; it should be '我今天吃饭' (I eat rice/meals today).

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伙
食

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Frequently asked questions about 伙食

No, 伙食 is typically used in informal contexts, especially when referring to communal or group meals.

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