Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
食用 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
食用shíyòngfood productHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #13865, Hard
食用shíyòngto use as foodHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #13865, Hard
食用shíyòngedibleHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #13865, Hard
shíyòng(shi2yong4)shi yong T2
  1. 1food product
  2. 2to use as food
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

食用shíyòng(shi2yong4)

食用 (shí yòng) refers to something that is suitable for consumption as food. This term is commonly used in contexts such as food labeling, indicating whether a product is safe or appropriate to eat. It combines the characters for 'eat' (食) and 'use' (用), emphasizing the application of food for nourishment.

Strokes14Frequency#13865DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of food safety is paramount, especially with the growing emphasis on organic and healthy eating. The term 食用 often appears in discussions about what is deemed healthy or safe to eat, reflecting societal values around food quality.

Memory tip

Imagine a chef (食) using (用) fresh ingredients in a beautiful dish. The character 食 looks like a plate with food on it, while 用 resembles a hand reaching out to grab something. This imagery will help you remember that 食用 pertains to what can be eaten.

Meanings of 食用

shíyòng(shi2yong4)
1food product
2to use as food
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 食用 means.

About 食用

食用Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 食用

JasonAmy

Podcast: 食用

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 食用

Quick Contrast

可食用 (kě shí yòng) vs 食用 (shí yòng) — use 可食用 to emphasize that something is edible or safe to eat, while 食用 is more general regarding suitability for consumption.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; correctly pronouncing 食 (shí) with the second tone and 用 (yòng) with the fourth tone is essential. Common collocations include 食用油 (cooking oil) and 食用盐 (table salt). Avoid using 食用 in non-food contexts, as it specifically pertains to edibility.

HSK Study Tips

Although 食用 is not an official HSK word, it connects with HSK level vocabulary related to food, health, and daily activities. Students should focus on similar terms like 食物 (food) and 用 (to use) to understand its usage better.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 食用 with just 食, thinking they can use it interchangeably. For example, saying '这不是食' (This is not food) instead of '这不是食用的' (This is not edible) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 食用

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 食用, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 食用 to you

Let me explain 食用 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 食用 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 食用?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 食用 is seven skills, not one.

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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

食shíto eat
9 strokes食
View full entry
用yòngto use
HSK 35 strokes用
View full entry

How to say food product in Chinese

“food product” in Chinese is食用shíyòng

食用 (shí yòng) refers to something that is suitable for consumption as food. This term is commonly used in contexts such as food labeling, indicating whether a product is safe or appropriate to eat. It combines the characters for 'eat' (食) and 'use' (用), emphasizing the application of food for nourishment.

When to use 食用

Be cautious with the tone; correctly pronouncing 食 (shí) with the second tone and 用 (yòng) with the fourth tone is essential. Common collocations include 食用油 (cooking oil) and 食用盐 (table salt). Avoid using 食用 in non-food contexts, as it specifically pertains to edibility.

食用 or something close to it

可食用 (kě shí yòng) vs 食用 (shí yòng) — use 可食用 to emphasize that something is edible or safe to eat, while 食用 is more general regarding suitability for consumption.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 食用 with just 食, thinking they can use it interchangeably. For example, saying '这不是食' (This is not food) instead of '这不是食用的' (This is not edible) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 食用

食
用

Practice writing 食用 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 食用?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 食用

食用 means 'edible' or 'suitable for consumption'.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 食用?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab