食 shí food
food; to eat
How it came to be
A footed vessel heaped with food and a lid set on top of it, drawn from the side. The lid is what says the meal is ready rather than being cooked.
How it is used
- 'Food; to eat' - bound/formal. 食物 (shíwù) food (general), 食品 (shípǐn) food products (packaged/commercial).
- 食物 vs 食品: 食物 is anything edible, 食品 is manufactured/sold food (食品安全 food safety).
- 零食 (língshí) = snacks; 美食 (měishí) = fine/delicious food; 食堂 (shítáng) = canteen. As a verb 食 (eat) survives in 食用 (shíyòng) for consumption.
Characters built with 食
Words with 食
- 美食měishículinary delicacyHSK 4
- 零食língshísnackHSK 4
- 食品shípǐnfoodstuffHSK 4
- 食堂shítángdining hallHSK 4
- 食物shíwùfoodHSK 4
- 主食zhǔshístaple foodHSK 5
- 粮食liángshifoodstuffHSK 5
- 食用shíyòngto eatHSK 5
- 饮食yǐnshíeating and drinkingHSK 5
- 衣食住行yī-shí-zhù-xíngthe basics of life - clothing, food, housing, travelHSK 6
- 食欲shíyùappetiteHSK 6
- 伙食huǒshífoodHSK 8
- 废寝忘食fèiqǐn-wàngshíto skip one's sleep and mealsHSK 8
- 捕食bǔshíto prey onHSK 8
- 素食sùshívegetarian foodHSK 9
- 膳食shànshímealsHSK 9
- 节衣缩食jiéyī-suōshíto save on food and clothing (idiom)HSK 9
- 食宿shísùboard and lodgingHSK 9
Example sentences
- 不能浪费食物。 Bù néng làngfèi shíwù.Don't waste your food.
- 烤鸭是知名的北京美食。 Kǎoyā shì zhīmíng de Běijīng měishí.Roast duck is a famous dish in Beijing.
- 超市里的食品可以任顾客挑选。 Chāoshì lǐ de shípǐn kěyǐ rèn gùkè tiāoxuǎn.Customers can select any of the foods in the supermarket they wish to.
- 新老师应该节食。 Xīn lǎoshī yīnggāi jiéshí.The new teacher should go on a diet.