Chinese Verb "吃" (chī)

to eat

Action verb

Basic Usage

Basic

Subject + 吃 + food

我吃米饭。

Wǒ chī mǐfàn.

I eat rice.

Completed Action (了 (le))

Completed with 了

Subject + 吃 + 了 + food

我吃了早饭。

Wǒ chī le zǎofàn.

I ate breakfast.

Experience (过 (guò))

Experience with 过

Subject + 吃 + 过 + food

你吃过北京烤鸭吗？

Nǐ chī guò Běijīng kǎoyā ma?

Have you ever eaten Peking duck?

Ongoing Action (在/着)

In progress with 在

Subject + 在 + 吃 + food

他们在吃午饭。

Tāmen zài chī wǔfàn.

They are eating lunch.

Future / Intent (会/要/想)

Future / want

Subject + 想 + 吃 + food

我想吃火锅。

Wǒ xiǎng chī huǒguō.

I want to eat hotpot.

Negation (不/没)

Negative with 不

Subject + 不吃 + food

我不吃辣的。

Wǒ bù chī là de.

I don't eat spicy food.

Negative past

Subject + 没吃 + food

我今天没吃早饭。

Wǒ jīntiān méi chī zǎofàn.

I didn't eat breakfast today.

Common Compounds & Related Words

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
吃饭	chīfàn	to eat a meal
好吃	hǎochī	delicious
吃惊	chījīng	to be surprised
吃亏	chīkuī	to suffer a loss

Example Sentences

我们一起吃饭吧！

Wǒmen yìqǐ chīfàn ba!

Let's eat together!

中国菜很好吃。

Zhōngguó cài hěn hǎochī.

Chinese food is delicious.

你吃饱了吗？

Nǐ chī bǎo le ma?

Are you full?