In this post, we will be learning Chinese words used colloquially ( 惯用语) that is related to the Chinese word eat . 惯用语. 惯 guàn means used to or accustomed to. 用 yòng to use. 语 yǔ is language or speech. The English equivalent of 惯用语 is commonly used phrase or Chinese colloquial expressions. It is commonly used in spoken language.

Learning colloquial Chinese is important if you want to have a deeper understanding of the Chinese language. The Chinese words used in these expressions do not express the actual meaning of the Chinese words. However, it is because of this reason that makes learning the Chinese language interesting.

In this post, we have listed 15 most commonly used Chinese words related to eat 吃 CHI. You may have used or heard some of these Chinese phrases listed below. For example, the 吃不到葡萄，就说葡萄是酸的. This Chinese phrase in English means to pretend to despise something because you are unable to attain it. From the Chinese words, it is difficult to understand the actual meaning behind the Chinese phrase. Although difficult, we should not give up learning colloquial Chinese (惯用语) or you will missed out the interesting part of learning the Chinese language.

吃皮不吃骨 Chī pí bù chī gǔ

Literally means eat skin don’t eat bone.

Actual meaning is not to hurt the vital part.

吃枪药 Chī qiāng yào

Literally means eat gun powder.

Actual meaning is to be angry and grumbles.

吃软不吃硬 chī ruǎn bù chī yìng

Literally means eat soft don’t eat hard.

Actual meaning is yielding to soft approach but rejecting hard approach.

吃软饭 Chī ruǎn fàn 3

Literally means eat soft rice.

Actual meaning is a man depending on his wife for his livelihood.

吃水忘了打井  Chī shuǐ wàng le dǎ jǐng 4

Literally means eat water forget to dig well.

Actual meaning is to forget about those people who have helped you obtain success.

吃闭门羹 Chī bì mén gēng 

Literally means eat closed door soup.

Actual meaning is to be turned down or rejected.

吃窝边草 chī wō biān cǎo

Literally means eat nest side grass.

Actual meaning is to prey on owns neighbors or friends.

吃闲饭 chī xián fàn

Literally means eat free rice.

Actual meaning is  to lead an idle life; be a loafer or sponger

吃香的喝辣的 Chī xiāng de hē là de

Literally means eat nice drink spicy.

Actual meaning is to lead a wealthy life, eating and drinking freely.

吃泻药 Chī xiè yào

There are two meanings to this Chinese phrase.

First is to eat laxative.

Secondly is to persuade others to calm down / to stop being angry.

吃鸭蛋 Chī yā dàn

There are two meaning in this Chinese phrase.

Firstly is to eat duck egg.

Secondly is to get zero in exam or competition.

吃哑巴亏 chī yǎ bā kuī

Literally means eat dumb loss

Actual meaning is to be wronged but could not defy to anyone.

吃眼前亏 chī yǎn qián kuī

Literally means eat eyes front loss.

Actual meaning is to accept a present loss; suffer loss under one’s nose.

吃洋墨水chī yáng mò shuǐ 10

Literally means eat foreign ink.

Actual meaning is to have studied abroad.

吃油头chī yóu tóu

Literally means eat oil head.

Actual meaning is to gain extra advantage by unfair means.

吃饱了撑的  Chī bǎo le chēng de

Literally means full to point of busting

Actual meaning is to mock someone who has too much time on his hand and starting to do silly things.

吃不到葡萄，就说葡萄是酸的  Chī bù dào pútáo, jiù shuō pú táo shì suān de

Literally means cannot eat grapes, then say grapes are sour

Actual meaning is to be sour grapes. To pretend to despise something because you are unable to attain it.

吃错了药 chī cuò le yào

Literally means to eat the wrong medicine.

Actual meaning is to mock someone for being crazy by doing the wrong things.

吃的盐比你吃的饭还多 Chī de yán bǐ nǐ chī de fàn hái duō

Literally means eat salt more than you eat rice

Actual meaning is to have more life experience than others

If you are interested to learn the pronunciation of the Chinese words, you can check it out in our youtube channel here. Do consider to subscribe to our youtube channel if you are interested in our videos.

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