to wolf down one's food (idiom); to devour ravenously
HSK 7, i, rank #20901, Hard
狼吞虎咽
lángtūnhǔyàn
to gorge oneself
HSK 7, i, rank #20901, Hard
lángtūnhǔyàn(lang2tun1hu3yan4) T2
1to wolf down one's food (idiom); to devour ravenously
2to gorge oneself
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March 24, 2026
狼吞虎咽(狼吞虎嚥)lángtūnhǔyàn(lang2tun1hu3yan4)
The idiom '狼吞虎咽' describes the act of eating food very greedily or ravenously, akin to how wolves and tigers consume their prey. It is often used to depict someone who is so hungry that they eat quickly and without restraint, sometimes to the point of being gluttonous.
Frequency#20901DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food plays a significant role in social gatherings, and the way one eats can reflect personal manners and cultural values. '狼吞虎咽' may also imply a lack of grace, highlighting the importance of moderation and etiquette in dining.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wolf (狼) and a tiger (虎) sitting at a dinner table, both staring hungrily at a huge feast, ready to pounce and devour everything in front of them. This vivid image of fierce animals gorging on food helps you remember the meaning and pronunciation of '狼吞虎咽'.
Meanings of 狼吞虎咽
lángtūnhǔyàn(lang2tun1hu3yan4)
1to wolf down one's food (idiom); to devour ravenously
2to gorge oneself
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 狼吞虎咽
狼吞虎咽Simplified
狼吞虎嚥Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
成语chéngyǔidiom (id.)Part of Speech
#20901Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 狼吞虎咽
Podcast: 狼吞虎咽
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AI Study Notes for 狼吞虎咽
Quick Contrast
狼吞虎咽 (eat ravenously) vs 大快朵颐 (enjoy a meal heartily) — use '狼吞虎咽' when emphasizing greediness or lack of restraint in eating.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wolf (狼) and a tiger (虎) sitting at a dinner table, both staring hungrily at a huge feast, ready to pounce and devour everything in front of them. This vivid image of fierce animals gorging on food helps you remember the meaning and pronunciation of '狼吞虎咽'.
Usage Notes
This idiom is typically used in informal contexts to describe someone’s eating habits. Common mistakes include using it in a formal setting or mispronouncing the tones, as getting the tones wrong may lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 idiom, '狼吞虎咽' connects with other expressions related to eating and drinking. Students should focus on its figurative meaning and the contexts in which it is appropriate to use idioms, as they enrich language fluency.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, food plays a significant role in social gatherings, and the way one eats can reflect personal manners and cultural values. '狼吞虎咽' may also imply a lack of grace, highlighting the importance of moderation and etiquette in dining.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '狼吞虎咽' with '吃得很快' (eat quickly) but miss the nuance of greediness and indulgence. A common incorrect usage is saying '我狼吞虎咽' when they mean to say they just ate quickly, without implying gluttony.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 狼吞虎咽
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Grammar Patterns of 狼吞虎咽
狼吞虎咽 functions as a four-character idiom (成语). Treat it as a fixed unit; it usually plays the role of a single adjective, adverb, or noun phrase inside the larger sentence. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我____地吃着那一大块牛排。
I chomped hungrily through the large steak.
Example Sentences for 狼吞虎咽 (6)
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1
我狼吞虎咽地吃着那一大块牛排。
wǒ láng tūn hǔ yān dì chī zháo nà yī dà kuài niú pái。
I chomped hungrily through the large steak.
2
我饿了一上午, 禁不住狼吞虎咽了起来.
wǒ è le yī shàng wǔ, , jīn bù zhù láng tūn hǔ yān le qǐ.
Being hungry for the whole morning, I couldn't help cramming myself.
3
为了及时赶上火车, 他在5分钟内就把两碗饭狼吞虎咽地吃光了.
wéi le jí shí gǎn shàng huǒ chē, , tā5 zài 5 fēn zhōng nèi jiù bǎ liǎng wǎn fàn láng tūn hǔ yān dì chī.
In order to catch the train in time, he polished off two bowls of rice in 5 minutes.
4
在宴会上他狼吞虎咽地把自己塞饱.
zài yàn huì shàng tā láng tūn hǔ yān dì bǎ zì jǐ sāi bǎo.
He gorged himself at the party.
5
猪总是狼吞虎咽地吃东西.
zhū zǒng shì láng tūn hǔ yān dì chī dōng xī.
Pigs guzzle their food.
6
女孩把凝成块的粥倒在我的手里, 我便狼吞虎咽地把粥吃掉了.
nǚ hái bǎ níng chéng kuài de zhōu dǎo zài wǒ de shǒu lǐ, , wǒ biàn láng tūn hǔ yān dì bǎ zhōu chī diào.
The girl emptied the stiffened mould into my hand, and I devoured it ravenously.
Cultural Notes for 狼吞虎咽
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, food plays a significant role in social gatherings, and the way one eats can reflect personal manners and cultural values. '狼吞虎咽' may also imply a lack of grace, highlighting the importance of moderation and etiquette in dining.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, gorging on food might be viewed as indulgent or celebratory, whereas in Chinese culture, it can also reflect poor etiquette or lack of self-control.
Frequently Asked Questions about 狼吞虎咽
'狼吞虎咽' specifically implies eating quickly and greedily; it wouldn't be appropriate for someone eating slowly.
'狼吞虎咽' primarily relates to eating, but it can metaphorically describe someone consuming anything excessively, even information.
