Chinese word

消化

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiāo huà

Meaning

  • verbdigest

Example

我吃得太多，消化不了。wǒ chī de tài duō xiāo huà bù liǎo

I ate too much, so I can't digest it.

Illustration for 消化 (digest)

More examples

这件事很复杂，我需要时间来消化这些信息。zhè jiàn shì hěn fù zá wǒ xū yào shí jiān lái xiāo huà zhè xiē xìn xī

This matter is very complicated, and I need time to digest this information.

Core concept

Takes something from outside the body or mind, breaks it down, and makes it usable within.

Common phrases

  • 消化信息xiāo huà xìn xī

    digest information

  • 慢慢消化màn màn xiāo huà

    digest slowly

  • 难以消化nán yǐ xiāo huà

    difficult to digest

Similar words

吸收xī shōu: Receive substances or ideas into the body or mind for use.
理解lí jiě: Understand the meaning of information or a situation clearly.

Definition in Chinese

把外来物质或观念分解并转化为身体或心智可吸收利用的过程，也用于指知识或经验被理解和内化的行为。bǎ wài lái wù zhì huò guān niàn fēn jiě bìng zhuǎn huà wèi shēn tǐ huò xīn zhì kě xī shōu lì yòng de guò chéng yě yòng yú zhǐ zhī shí huò jīng yàn bèi lí jiě hé nèi huà de xíng wéi

Word origin

消化 (xiāohuà, "digest") is formed from 消 (xiāo, "dissolve or disperse") + 化 (huà, "change"), linking the physical process with the later mental sense.

Usage tips

  • The word works for both meals and lessons, but it emphasizes processing rather than simply receiving, which helps describe material that is too difficult or plentiful to handle.

Other meanings

  • digestionnoun
  • absorbverb

Related words

  • 消化吸收xiāo huà xī shōudigest and absorbverb
  • 消化能力xiāo huà néng lìdigestive capacitynoun

Word lists with this word