eat, makan，吃，chi

Post date: Oct 28, 2015 1:54:20 AM

how much you eat

【Do you know it?】

Both “尝” and “吃” mean “eat”. Is there any difference between them?

【Different Definitions】

尝(chánɡ): taste; have a short experience of something

吃（chī）: eat (put food in your mouth, chew it and swallow it)

【Different Usages】

“尝” means “taste the flavor of something by eating or drinking a small amount of it”, while “吃” means “eat a big amount to stuff and satisfy oneself”.

【Example】

√ chī fàn de shí hou bié wán shǒu jī

吃饭的时候别玩手机。

Don’t fiddle with your cell phone while eating.

X 尝饭的时候别玩手机。

√ zài ɡuó wài liú xué yì nián，wǒ chánɡ dào le xiǎnɡ jiā shì shén me zī wèi

在国外 留学一年，我尝到了想家是什么滋味。

I have learned what homesickness tastes like in the past year of overseas study.

X 在国外留学一年， 我吃到了想家是什么滋味。

nǐ jīn tiān chī zǎo cān le ma ？

你今天吃早餐了吗？