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March 24, 2026
胃口wèikǒu(wei4kou3)
The term 胃口 (wèi kǒu) refers to one's appetite or desire for food. It can also indicate a liking or preference for certain types of food or flavors in various contexts, such as when discussing dining experiences or personal tastes.
Frequency#4958DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing one's appetite is common during meals as it reflects hospitality and the importance of food in social interactions. Food plays a central role in family gatherings and celebrations, making 胃口 a significant term.
Memory Tip
Imagine your stomach (胃, wèi) and mouth (口, kǒu) are having a conversation about what to eat. Visualize your stomach expressing its appetite, saying, 'I want that!' This image helps connect the characters to their meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 胃口
wèikǒu(wei4kou3)
1appetite
2liking
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About 胃口
胃口Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4958Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 胃口
Podcast: 胃口
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AI Study Notes for 胃口
Quick Contrast
食欲 (shí yù) — use 胃口 when emphasizing personal preference or taste, while 食欲 focuses more on the physiological aspect of hunger.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine your stomach (胃, wèi) and mouth (口, kǒu) are having a conversation about what to eat. Visualize your stomach expressing its appetite, saying, 'I want that!' This image helps connect the characters to their meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in dining situations. Be cautious not to confuse 胃口 with 饥饿 (jī è), which specifically means 'hunger.' Common collocations include '有胃口' (yǒu wèi kǒu - have an appetite) and '没胃口' (méi wèi kǒu - have no appetite).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 胃口 connects to other food-related vocabulary, making it crucial for students to learn in dining contexts. Focus on using it in sentences about personal experiences with food to reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing one's appetite is common during meals as it reflects hospitality and the importance of food in social interactions. Food plays a central role in family gatherings and celebrations, making 胃口 a significant term.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 胃口 to mean 'hunger' instead of 'appetite.' For example, saying '我很胃口' (Wǒ hěn wèi kǒu) instead of '我很饿' (Wǒ hěn è) to express hunger.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 胃口
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Grammar Patterns of 胃口
胃口 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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.
niú jīn de shè jiāo quān guò yú kāi fàng, , bù hé tā de wèi.
Oxford's social circle was far too liberal for her taste.
5
对以前爱吃的食物，他兴许突然就没了胃口。
duì yǐ qián ài chī de shí wù， ， tā xīng xǔ tū rán jiù méi le wèi。
He may suddenly take a dislike to foods that he's previously enjoyed.
6
得到的礼物越多，她的胃口就越大，直到他捉襟见肘为止。
dé dào de lǐ wù yuè duō， ， tā de wèi kǒu jiù yuè， dà ， zhí dào tā zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu。
The more gifts she received, the more she craved, until he was living beyond his means.
7
他一闻到蒜味,就对晚餐倒了胃口.
tā yī wén dào suàn wèi, , jiù duì wǎn cān dǎo le wèi.
The mere smell of garlic put him off his supper.
Cultural Notes for 胃口
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, discussing one's appetite is common during meals as it reflects hospitality and the importance of food in social interactions. Food plays a central role in family gatherings and celebrations, making 胃口 a significant term.
Frequently Asked Questions about 胃口
You can say '你有胃口吗？' (Nǐ yǒu wèi kǒu ma?) to inquire about someone's appetite.
Yes, it can also refer to a liking for something, such as a preference for a particular activity or hobby.
