Food is an important part of Chinese culture and the act of eating is tied to many different types of emotions in the Chinese language.
First, Can you think of a Chinese phrase using the word "eat(吃)" to describe Michelle Obamas face?
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More chinese Chinese phrase using the word "eat"
1. 吃苦
吃——eat,苦——bitter,吃苦——bearing hardships
eg.
现在的大学生真是不能吃苦，放暑假居然带回家一堆脏衣服让妈妈洗。
2. 吃豆腐
吃——eat，豆腐——tofu,吃豆腐——flirt with women/men (Touch inappropriately when hitting on someone. The person whose tofu is being eaten feels uncomfortable.)
eg.
Many men flirt with women at bars.
3. 吃货 & 小吃
吃——eat，货——goods，吃货——someone who likes to eat delicious food a lot or someone who is good for nothing
小——small，吃——eat,小吃——snack
snacks
eg.
I love to eat food. I am a Chihuo.
4. 吃得开 & 吃香 & 吃亏
吃——eat，得开——can’t be used alone except in“吃得开”，吃得开——be popular。
吃——eat，香——sweet-smelling，吃香——be well-liked。
吃——eat，亏——have a deficit，吃亏——suffer losses。
eg.
Chinese teachers are very popular. There are many foreigners interested in learning Chinese.
He is very popular at the company.
I told you not to trust this man’s word and now you lost the money he cheated you.
5. 吃独食 & 吃小灶 & 吃大锅饭
吃——eat，独食——this word can’t be used alone except in“吃独食”，吃独食——not to share profit with others。
吃——eat，小灶——the food is cooked on a small scale and served à la carte，吃小灶——be treated in a favored way。
吃——eat，大锅饭——communal pot，吃大锅饭——getting an equal share regardless of the work done。
eg.
我们一起想出的主意，你居然对老板说是你自己想的，你想吃独食也得问问我同不同意。
We thought of this idea together. You unexpectedly told our boss that you thought of it yourself. You want to “chidushi” without asking me first if I agree.
Her mom gave the teacher a lot of money. The teacher will give her preferential treatment next class.
It is not a “getting an equal share regardless of the work done” generation. If you don’t work hard, it’s not okay.
To be continued...
