Meanings of 飧
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About 飧
Podcast: 飧
Podcast: 飧
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AI Study Notes for 飧
Learners should be aware that 飧 is quite formal and rarely used in casual conversation, where 晚餐 (wǎncān) is preferred instead for 'dinner.' Be mindful of tone pronunciation, as saying 'sūn' incorrectly could lead to misunderstandings with similar-sounding words.
Although 飧 is not included in any HSK levels, studying it can enhance vocabulary related to meals and food culture. Students at HSK level 3 should focus on commonly used meal-related terms, such as breakfast (早餐, zǎocān) and lunch (午餐, wǔcān), to build a broader context around dining vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 飧 with the more common 晚餐 and may use it incorrectly in casual situations. For example, saying '我今晚吃飧' (wǒ jīnwǎn chī sūn) is incorrect; it should be '我今晚吃晚餐' (wǒ jīnwǎn chī wǎncān).
Pronunciation of 飧
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Etymology of 飧
An evening 夕 meal 食
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 飧
- 1The giveawayAn evening 夕 meal 食
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 飧? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 飧
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How to say dinner, supper; cooked food in Chinese
“dinner, supper; cooked food” in Chinese is飧
The character 飧 (sūn) refers to dinner or supper, often used in a literary context. It denotes a meal that is typically consumed in the evening, focusing on the idea of cooked food. While not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in formal writing or historical texts.
When to use 飧
Learners should be aware that 飧 is quite formal and rarely used in casual conversation, where 晚餐 (wǎncān) is preferred instead for 'dinner.' Be mindful of tone pronunciation, as saying 'sūn' incorrectly could lead to misunderstandings with similar-sounding words.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 飧 with the more common 晚餐 and may use it incorrectly in casual situations. For example, saying '我今晚吃飧' (wǒ jīnwǎn chī sūn) is incorrect; it should be '我今晚吃晚餐' (wǒ jīnwǎn chī wǎncān).
Write 飧
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Practice writing 飧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 飧
Compound Meaning
What does 飧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 飧
No, 飧 is more formal and typically found in literary contexts. In everyday conversation, 晚餐 (wǎncān) is commonly used.
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