吃在中国

中国“吃”文化"Eating" in China
在中国呆久了你就会发现，中国人见面打招呼的方式之一是：“你吃了吗？”尤其是在吃饭点，这样的对话很常见：
If you stay in China for a long time, you will find out that some Chinese p eople greet others by saying "have you eaten already?" (你吃了吗nǐchī l e ma?) ，especially at meal time, this dialogue can be heard anywhere.
Jim: Hi, Lucy, nǐchī le ma?
Hi, Lucy, 你吃了吗？
Hi, Lucy, have you eaten?
Lucy: Chīle, nǐne ?
吃了，你呢？
Yes, and you?
Jim: wǒyě chī le。

我也吃了。

I have, too.
这是因为过去物质匮乏，能吃饱成了彼此最朴实的愿望，所以这样问以显示关心。

如今中国人再也不用为衣食担忧，但这样的问候方式却延续了下来，而且这种“吃文化”在人们如今的生活中还扮演了很重要的角色。

小编为你盘点一下。

In the old days, when food was more scarce, this traditional greeting mea ns you care for the person you are addressing. In modern China, food is p lentiful, but the greeting has become commonplace, as well as other "eatin g terms". We will learn more here:
English meaning Chinese terms Literal translation Example
Have difficulties吃力
chī lìEat hardships他学习很吃力。

He has difficulty i
n his studies.
Be popular吃得开
chī dé kāi Eat well他在社会上很吃得开。

He is popular in th
e community.
Enjoy privilege吃小灶
chī xiǎo zào Eat a small stove课后老师总给他吃小
灶。

After class, the tea
cher always gives hi
m special attention.
Live off one's Past gains 吃老本
chī lǎo běn
Eat the original cap
ital
他不做生意光吃老本。

He doesn't do busine
ss, but lives off hi
s savings.
Take advantage of吃豆腐
chī dòu fǔEat bean curd不好意思，我不是故意
要吃你豆腐。

Sorry,I did not mean
to take advantage o
f you.
Too much吃不消
chī bú xiāo Eat but not digest全天工作她恐怕吃不
消。

A full-time job ma
y be too much for he
r.
To suffer losses吃亏
chī kuīEat losses跟他作生意你是要吃亏
的。

You will stand to lo
se if you do busines
s with him.
Be jealous吃醋
chī cùEat vinegar当他发现她爱别人的时
候，他吃醋了。

He was jealous when
he discovered that s
he loved someone els
e.
Live off others吃干饭
chī gàn fàn Eat cooked rice我们不需要吃干饭的。

We don't need thos
e who live of
f other
s.
Cause trouble吃苦头
chī kǔ tóu Eat bitterness少管闲事，要不你会吃
苦头的。

Mind your own busine
ss, or you'll caus
e trouble.
家宴—— Family feast。