What does 吃 mean in Chinese?

吃 (chī) means "to eat; to consume; to eat at (a cafeteria etc); to eradicate; to destroy; to absorb; to suffer; to stammer (Taiwan pr. for this sense is [ji2])" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 1.

How do you pronounce 吃?

吃 is pronounced "chī" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 吃?

吃 is an HSK 1 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 吃?

Common words with 吃 include 乱吃 (to eat indiscriminately), 偷吃 (to eat on the sly), 口吃 (to stammer), 可吃 (edible), 吃不上 (unable to get anything to eat).

How do you write 吃?

吃 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 口. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

吃 (chī), to eat

吃

chī

to eat; to consume; to eat at (a cafeteria etc); to eradicate

HSK 1verb6 strokes

Character Breakdown

吃 = 口 + 乞

A mouth begging — to eat

Radical: 口 (no. 30)Strokes: 6

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to eat
to consume
to eat at (a cafeteria etc)
to eradicate
to destroy
to absorb
to suffer
to stammer (Taiwan pr. for this sense is [ji2])

Example Sentences

我想吃面条。

Wǒ xiǎng chī miàntiáo

I want to eat noodles

Words Containing 吃

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
乱吃	luàn chī	to eat indiscriminately
偷吃	tōu chī	to eat on the sly
口吃	kǒu chī	to stammer	HSK 7-9
可吃	kě chī	edible
吃不上	chī bu shàng	unable to get anything to eat

Related Words

摄入(shè rù)· to take in

→

剪草除根(jiǎn cǎo chú gēn)· lit. cut grass and pull out roots (idiom); fig. to destroy root and branch

→

吃掉(chī diào)· to eat up

→

坐吃享福(zuò chī xiǎng fú)· vegetative existence

→

Grammar Notes

Basic Sentence Order (SVO)HSK 1

Subject + (Time) + (Place) + Verb + Object

Negation with 不HSK 1

Subject + 不 + Verb / Adjective

Negation with 没 / 没有HSK 1

Subject + 没(有) + Verb / Object

Adjectives with 很HSK 1

Subject + 很 + Adjective

Time Expression PlacementHSK 1

Subject + Time + Verb + Object (or) Time + Subject + Verb + Object

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 1
HSK 2.0: HSK 1
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

吃: HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 1 exam

Studying for HSK 1? Keep 吃 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 1 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.