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March 24, 2026
好吃hǎochī(hao3chi1)
好吃 (hǎo chī) means 'tasty' or 'delicious' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to describe food that is enjoyable to eat. The term can also imply a fondness for eating or a tendency to be gluttonous, depending on the context.
Frequency#2075DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is often a centerpiece of social gatherings and celebrations, making the expression 好吃 significant in everyday life. It reflects the cultural value placed on communal eating and the enjoyment of culinary experiences.
Memory Tip
Imagine a happy character (好) sitting at a table filled with delicious food (吃). The character's smile represents 'good' (好), and the act of eating (吃) connects it to being tasty. Visualize this scene whenever you hear '好吃' to remember its meaning and pronunciation.
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AI Study Notes for 好吃
Quick Contrast
美味 (měiwèi) - use 好吃 when speaking casually about food that is enjoyable, while 美味 is more formal or emphasizes gourmet quality.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a happy character (好) sitting at a table filled with delicious food (吃). The character's smile represents 'good' (好), and the act of eating (吃) connects it to being tasty. Visualize this scene whenever you hear '好吃' to remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
This term is informal and typically used in casual conversations about food. A common mistake is to use it for non-food items; for example, saying '这个电影好吃' (This movie is tasty) is incorrect. Instead, use it only when referring to edible items.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 2 word, 好吃 connects well with other vocabulary about food and dining. Students should focus on using it in sentences describing their meal experiences, integrating it with words like '饭' (rice) and '菜' (vegetables) to enhance comprehension.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food is often a centerpiece of social gatherings and celebrations, making the expression 好吃 significant in everyday life. It reflects the cultural value placed on communal eating and the enjoyment of culinary experiences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 好吃 with non-food contexts, such as '这个书好吃' (This book is tasty), which is incorrect. Instead, refer to food items only, like '这个菜好吃' (This dish is tasty).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 好吃
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Grammar Patterns of 好吃
好吃 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Spread the inside of the loaf with olive paste or pesto sauce for extra flavour.
6
但愿她做了什么好吃的, 他真饿了.
dàn yuàn tā zuò le shí mó hǎo chī de, , tā zhēn è.
Hope she has prepared something delicious; he was very hungry.
7
肚饿糠好吃,饥不择食.
dù è kāng hǎo chī, , jī bù zé.
Hunger will relish the plainest fare.
8
我们现在最好吃得饱饱的——前面的路还很长呢.
wǒ mén xiàn zài zuì hǎo chī dé bǎo bǎo de—— —— qián miàn de lù huán hěn cháng.
We'd better stoke up now — we've got a long journey in front of us.
9
诺拉抱起那个男孩，给他一块饼干，说：“伦尼，给，拿着这块好吃的饼干。”
nuò lā bào qǐ nà gè nán hái， ， gěi tā yī kuài bǐng， gān：“ ， shuō， ：“， lún ní ， gěi ， ná zháo zhè kuài。”
Nora picked up the boy, and gave him a biscuit. "There you are, Lennie, you take the nice biscuit."
10
我敢打赌他们有非常好吃的冰激凌。
wǒ gǎn dǎ dǔ tā mén yǒu fēi cháng hǎo chī de bīng jī líng。
I'll bet they have yummy ice cream.
Cultural Notes for 好吃
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, food is often a centerpiece of social gatherings and celebrations, making the expression 好吃 significant in everyday life. It reflects the cultural value placed on communal eating and the enjoyment of culinary experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions about 好吃
No, 好吃 is specifically used for food. For drinks, you would use 好喝 (hǎo hē), which means 'tasty to drink'.
No, 好吃 is informal and typically used in casual conversations. In more formal settings, you might describe food as 美味 (měi wèi) or delicious.
You can ask '这个好吃吗?' (Is this tasty?) to inquire about the taste of food.
