Chinese word

食物

Pronunciation

Pinyinshí wù

Meaning

  • nounfood

Example

这些食物很新鲜。zhè xiē shí wù hěn xīn xiān

These foods are very fresh.

Illustration for 食物 (food)

More examples

孩子们喜欢吃各种食物。hái zi men xǐ huān chī gè zhǒng shí wù

Children like to eat all kinds of food.

Core concept

Anything edible that gives a person or animal energy and nourishment, whether it is raw or prepared.

Common phrases

  • 吃食物chī shí wù

    eat food

  • 带食物dài shí wù

    bring food

  • 很多食物hěn duō shí wù

    a lot of food

Similar words

食品shí pǐn: A food product prepared and packaged for selling or distribution.
食材shí cái: An ingredient, usually raw or uncooked, used in cooking.
饭菜fàn cài: Prepared main dishes and side dishes served for a meal.
饮食yǐn shí: Eating and drinking considered as an activity or daily habit.

Definition in Chinese

指人或动物为获得能量或营养而摄入的各种可食用物品，包括原料与加工食品。zhǐ rén huò dòng wù wèi huò dé néng liàng huò yíng yǎng ér shè rù de gè zhǒng kě shí yòng wù pǐn bāo kuò yuán liào yǔ jiā gōng shí pǐn

Word origin

食 (shí, "eat") + 物 (wù, "thing") forms a compound meaning a thing that is eaten.

Usage tips

  • 食物 (shíwù, "food") names the edible things as a category, whereas 吃东西 (chī dōngxi, "eat something") and 吃饭 (chī fàn, "eat a meal") describe people eating in everyday speech.

Other meanings

  • food productnoun
  • food suppliesnoun
  • nourishmentnoun

Word lists with this word