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March 24, 2026
好吃hǎochī(hao3chi1)
好吃 (hǎo chī) means 'tasty' or 'delicious' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to describe food that is enjoyable to eat. The term can also imply a fondness for eating or a tendency to be gluttonous, depending on the context.
Strokes12Frequency#2075DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is often a centerpiece of social gatherings and celebrations, making the expression 好吃 significant in everyday life. It reflects the cultural value placed on communal eating and the enjoyment of culinary experiences.
Memory Tip
Imagine a happy character (好) sitting at a table filled with delicious food (吃). The character's smile represents 'good' (好), and the act of eating (吃) connects it to being tasty. Visualize this scene whenever you hear '好吃' to remember its meaning and pronunciation.
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AI Study Notes for 好吃
Quick Contrast
美味 (měiwèi) - use 好吃 when speaking casually about food that is enjoyable, while 美味 is more formal or emphasizes gourmet quality.
Usage Notes
This term is informal and typically used in casual conversations about food. A common mistake is to use it for non-food items; for example, saying '这个电影好吃' (This movie is tasty) is incorrect. Instead, use it only when referring to edible items.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 2 word, 好吃 connects well with other vocabulary about food and dining. Students should focus on using it in sentences describing their meal experiences, integrating it with words like '饭' (rice) and '菜' (vegetables) to enhance comprehension.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 好吃 with non-food contexts, such as '这个书好吃' (This book is tasty), which is incorrect. Instead, refer to food items only, like '这个菜好吃' (This dish is tasty).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 好吃
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好吃 (hǎo chī) means 'tasty' or 'delicious' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to describe food that is enjoyable to eat. The term can also imply a fondness for eating or a tendency to be gluttonous, depending on the context.
When to use 好吃
This term is informal and typically used in casual conversations about food. A common mistake is to use it for non-food items; for example, saying '这个电影好吃' (This movie is tasty) is incorrect. Instead, use it only when referring to edible items.
好吃 or something close to it
美味 (měiwèi) - use 好吃 when speaking casually about food that is enjoyable, while 美味 is more formal or emphasizes gourmet quality.
What learners get wrong
Learners often use 好吃 with non-food contexts, such as '这个书好吃' (This book is tasty), which is incorrect. Instead, refer to food items only, like '这个菜好吃' (This dish is tasty).
Write 好吃
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吃
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Grammar Patterns of 好吃
好吃 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
