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March 24, 2026
吃饭(吃飯)chīfàn(chi1fan4)
吃饭 (chī fàn) means 'to have a meal' or 'to eat' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in everyday conversation to refer to the act of eating, but it can also imply making a living, as in 'earning a wage.' This phrase is often used in social contexts, such as inviting someone to share a meal.
Frequency#1336DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharing a meal is an important social activity that fosters relationships and community. The phrase 吃饭 reflects this cultural value, as meals are often seen as opportunities for connection and communication.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big bowl of rice (饭, fàn) that you are eating (吃, chī) with chopsticks. Visualize your friends gathering around the table, and the sound of laughter fills the air as you enjoy your meal together—this captures the essence of 吃饭!
Meanings of 吃饭
chīfàn(chi1fan4)
1to have a meal
2to eat
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 吃饭
吃饭Simplified
吃飯Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 吃饭
Podcast: 吃饭
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AI Study Notes for 吃饭
Quick Contrast
吃 (chī) vs 用餐 (yòngcān) — use 吃饭 when referring to casual eating, and 用餐 for more formal dining contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big bowl of rice (饭, fàn) that you are eating (吃, chī) with chopsticks. Visualize your friends gathering around the table, and the sound of laughter fills the air as you enjoy your meal together—this captures the essence of 吃饭!
Usage Notes
A common mistake is using 吃饭 when referring to specific types of meals, like 'breakfast' or 'dinner'—instead, use 吃早饭 (chī zǎo fàn) for breakfast and 吃晚饭 (chī wǎn fàn) for dinner. This phrase is informal, making it suitable for casual conversations but less so in formal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
吃饭 is relevant for HSK Level 1 learners as it introduces basic verbs and food vocabulary. Students should focus on practicing this phrase in various contexts, such as inviting friends to eat or discussing meal times.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sharing a meal is an important social activity that fosters relationships and community. The phrase 吃饭 reflects this cultural value, as meals are often seen as opportunities for connection and communication.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 吃饭 with just 'eating' and forget to use it in social contexts, such as inviting someone to eat together. For instance, saying '我吃饭' (Wǒ chī fàn) can sound too solitary; better to say '我们一起吃饭吧!' (Wǒmen yīqǐ chī fàn ba!) meaning 'Let's eat together!'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 吃饭
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Common Confusions with 吃饭
吃饭vs吃
chī
Similar in pronunciation and shares the radical for eating.
吃饭vs饭
fàn
Similar in pronunciation but refers specifically to rice or meal.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to have a meal"?
or
Usage Notes for 吃饭
Confusion with other meal-related termsCommon Error
Learners often confuse 吃饭 with other similar phrases like 吃 (to eat) and 饭 (meal). It's important to remember that 吃饭 specifically means to have a meal.
1
我每天都吃饭。
I have a meal every day.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
我每天都____。
I have a meal every day.
Cultural Notes for 吃饭
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, sharing a meal is an important social activity that fosters relationships and community. The phrase 吃饭 reflects this cultural value, as meals are often seen as opportunities for connection and communication.
Frequently Asked Questions about 吃饭
While 吃饭 (chī fàn) is a very common phrase, in formal settings, you might use more formal expressions for dining, such as 用餐 (yòng cān). However, it's still widely understood and acceptable in many situations.
吃 (chī) simply means 'to eat,' while 吃饭 (chī fàn) specifically refers to having a meal. Using 吃饭 implies a more social or structured context around eating.
吃饭 (chī fàn) means 'to have a meal' or 'to eat.' It is commonly used in everyday conversation to refer to the act of eating. Additionally, it can also imply making a living in certain contexts.
You can use 吃饭 (chī fàn) in sentences like '我们去吃饭吧' which means 'Let's go eat.' It's a versatile phrase that's essential for daily interactions involving meals.
You can say '我们去吃饭吧!' (Wǒmen qù chī fàn ba!) which means 'Let's go have a meal!'
While it primarily means 'to eat,' it can also imply making a living, as in 'I work to eat'.
