Chinese Conversation · Level 39
90 words
Chinese word
美食
Pronunciation
Pinyinměi shí
Meaning
- noundelicious food
Example
这家店的美食很有名。zhè jiā diàn de měi shí hěn yǒu míng
The delicious food at this restaurant is very famous.
More examples
旅行中，她总想尝试各种美食。lǚ xíng zhōng tā zǒng xiǎng cháng shì gè zhǒng měi shí
While traveling, she always wants to try all kinds of delicious food.
Core concept
Food treated as a pleasurable discovery, valued for taste, care, and the experience it offers.
Common phrases
吃美食chī měi shí
eat delicious food
品尝美食pǐn cháng měi shí
savor delicious food
推荐美食tuī jiàn měi shí
recommend delicious food
Similar words
食物shí wù: Anything that people eat, including all kinds of food.
菜cài: A dish or side dish served at home or in a restaurant.
小吃xiǎo chī: A small, easy-to-eat food sold at a street stall or snack shop.
食品shí pǐn: Food or drink that is processed and sold as a commercial product.
Definition in Chinese
指好吃的食物，尤指烹饪讲究或味道鲜美、值得品尝的菜肴。zhǐ hǎo chī de shí wù yóu zhǐ pēng rèn jiǎng jiū huò wèi dào xiān měi zhí de pǐn cháng de cài yáo
Word origin
The positive quality sense of 美 (měi, "beautiful; good") combines with 食 (shí, "food") in 美食 (měishí, "fine food"), giving the compound its appreciative meaning.
Usage tips
- Unlike English terms that may suggest high price or formal dining, this word can praise humble street food when its flavor or craft earns admiration.
Other meanings
- treatnoun
- gourmet foodnoun
- delicacynoun
Related words
- 美食家měi shí jiāgourmetnoun
- 美食节měi shí jiéfood festivalnoun