Meanings of 狼吞虎咽
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Podcast: 狼吞虎咽
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AI Study Notes for 狼吞虎咽
狼吞虎咽 (eat ravenously) vs 大快朵颐 (enjoy a meal heartily) — use '狼吞虎咽' when emphasizing greediness or lack of restraint in eating.
This idiom is typically used in informal contexts to describe someone’s eating habits. Common mistakes include using it in a formal setting or mispronouncing the tones, as getting the tones wrong may lead to misunderstandings.
As an HSK Level 6 idiom, '狼吞虎咽' connects with other expressions related to eating and drinking. Students should focus on its figurative meaning and the contexts in which it is appropriate to use idioms, as they enrich language fluency.
Learners often confuse '狼吞虎咽' with '吃得很快' (eat quickly) but miss the nuance of greediness and indulgence. A common incorrect usage is saying '我狼吞虎咽' when they mean to say they just ate quickly, without implying gluttony.
Pronunciation of 狼吞虎咽
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Idiom Spotlight: 狼吞虎咽
Component Characters
How to say to wolf down one's food (idiom); to devour ravenously in Chinese
“to wolf down one's food (idiom); to devour ravenously” in Chinese is狼吞虎咽
The idiom '狼吞虎咽' describes the act of eating food very greedily or ravenously, akin to how wolves and tigers consume their prey. It is often used to depict someone who is so hungry that they eat quickly and without restraint, sometimes to the point of being gluttonous.
When to use 狼吞虎咽
This idiom is typically used in informal contexts to describe someone’s eating habits. Common mistakes include using it in a formal setting or mispronouncing the tones, as getting the tones wrong may lead to misunderstandings.
狼吞虎咽 or something close to it
狼吞虎咽 (eat ravenously) vs 大快朵颐 (enjoy a meal heartily) — use '狼吞虎咽' when emphasizing greediness or lack of restraint in eating.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '狼吞虎咽' with '吃得很快' (eat quickly) but miss the nuance of greediness and indulgence. A common incorrect usage is saying '我狼吞虎咽' when they mean to say they just ate quickly, without implying gluttony.
Write 狼吞虎咽
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Practice writing 狼吞虎咽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 狼吞虎咽
狼吞虎咽 functions as a four-character idiom (成语). Treat it as a fixed unit; it usually plays the role of a single adjective, adverb, or noun phrase inside the larger sentence. 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.
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我____地吃着那一大块牛排。
I chomped hungrily through the large steak.
Example Sentences for 狼吞虎咽 (6)
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Cultural Notes for 狼吞虎咽
In Western cultures, gorging on food might be viewed as indulgent or celebratory, whereas in Chinese culture, it can also reflect poor etiquette or lack of self-control.
Frequently Asked Questions about 狼吞虎咽
'狼吞虎咽' specifically implies eating quickly and greedily; it wouldn't be appropriate for someone eating slowly.
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