Chinese verb · action · first needed at beginner level (A1)
吃
chī
to eat
Takes a food, or the general object (fàn): (chīfàn, to eat, to have a meal). (Nǐ chīfàn le ma?) is also a friendly greeting.
Speed:
Basic
基本
What you eat, now or usually. Negative: (bù chī).
| affirmative | 我每天吃早饭。Wǒ měi tiān chī zǎofàn. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不吃肉。Wǒ bù chī ròu. | |
| question | 你吃辣的吗？Nǐ chī là de ma? |
Completed
了
Something that has happened. Negative with (méi), and then 了 drops.
| affirmative | 我吃了。Wǒ chī le. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我还没吃。Wǒ hái méi chī. | |
| question | 你吃饭了吗？Nǐ chīfàn le ma? |
Experience
过
Something done at least once before. Negative: + verb + 过.
| affirmative | 我吃过北京烤鸭。Wǒ chīguo Běijīng kǎoyā. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没吃过北京烤鸭。Wǒ méi chīguo Běijīng kǎoyā. | |
| question | 你吃过火锅吗？Nǐ chīguo huǒguō ma? |
In progress
在
Happening right now. Negative: (méi zài).
| affirmative | 我在吃饭。Wǒ zài chīfàn. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没在吃饭。Wǒ méi zài chīfàn. | |
| question | 你在吃什么？Nǐ zài chī shénme? |
Future and intention
要 / 会
Plans with (yào), predictions with (huì). To say you won't, use + verb or .
| affirmative | 我们晚上要吃火锅。Wǒmen wǎnshang yào chī huǒguō. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我今天晚上不吃饭。Wǒ jīntiān wǎnshang bù chīfàn. | |
| question | 你中午要吃什么？Nǐ zhōngwǔ yào chī shénme? |
Ability and permission
能 / 可以 / 会
: able to eat something. (chī bu liǎo): you really can't eat it.
| affirmative | 我能吃辣。Wǒ néng chī là. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不能吃辣。Wǒ bù néng chī là. | |
| question | 你能吃辣吗？Nǐ néng chī là ma? | |
| can't | 我吃不了辣的。Wǒ chī bu liǎo là de. |
Result
结果补语
: to eat your fill; : to finish eating. (chī bu wán): too much to finish.
| affirmative | 我吃饱了。Wǒ chībǎo le. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我还没吃饱。Wǒ hái méi chībǎo. | |
| question | 你吃饱了吗？Nǐ chībǎo le ma? | |
| can't | 太多了，我吃不完。Tài duō le, wǒ chī bu wán. |
Examples
- 我们去吃火锅吧！Wǒmen qù chī huǒguō ba!Let's go for hotpot!
- 我吃过饭了。Wǒ chīguo fàn le.I've already eaten.
- 这个菜很好吃。Zhège cài hěn hǎochī.This dish is delicious.