Meanings of 小吃
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About 小吃
Podcast: 小吃
Podcast: 小吃
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AI Study Notes for 小吃
小吃 (snack) vs 点心 (dim sum) — choose 小吃 for casual, often street food snacks, while 点心 refers to more formal, served dishes typically enjoyed with tea.
Be mindful of using 小吃 in informal contexts, as it is more casual than terms like 餐点 (cāndiǎn) for meals. It often collocates with words like '街头' (jiētóu, street) or '美食' (měishí, delicacies). Remember to pronounce the tones correctly to avoid confusion with similar words.
As an HSK Level 4 word, 小吃 connects well with other food-related vocabulary, like 食物 (shíwù, food) and 饭 (fàn, rice/meal). Focus on using it in conversations about dining and local specialties.
Learners sometimes confuse 小吃 with 正餐 (zhèngcān, main meal), mistakenly using it to refer to full courses. Remember, 小吃 specifically means snacks or refreshments.
Pronunciation of 小吃
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Jason Explains 小吃 to You
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Component Characters
How to say snack in Chinese
“snack” in Chinese is小吃
小吃 refers to small, often inexpensive snacks or refreshments typically enjoyed between meals or as street food. They are commonly shared in social settings and can vary widely in terms of ingredients and preparation methods across different regions of China.
When to use 小吃
Be mindful of using 小吃 in informal contexts, as it is more casual than terms like 餐点 (cāndiǎn) for meals. It often collocates with words like '街头' (jiētóu, street) or '美食' (měishí, delicacies). Remember to pronounce the tones correctly to avoid confusion with similar words.
小吃 or something close to it
小吃 (snack) vs 点心 (dim sum) — choose 小吃 for casual, often street food snacks, while 点心 refers to more formal, served dishes typically enjoyed with tea.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 小吃 with 正餐 (zhèngcān, main meal), mistakenly using it to refer to full courses. Remember, 小吃 specifically means snacks or refreshments.
Write 小吃
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Practice writing 小吃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 小吃
小吃 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
如果你的姓以字母A～D打头, 请自带开胃____.
If your last name starts with A ～ D, please bring an appetizer.
Example Sentences for 小吃 (5)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 小吃
Examples of 小吃 include dumplings (饺子), spring rolls (春卷), and various types of skewered meats.
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