吃 (chī) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 吃 (chī) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 吃 (chī) means "to eat". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 6 strokes and the radical 口.

Q: How do you write 吃 stroke by stroke?

吃 has 6 strokes. The radical is 口. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 吃 and 卟?

吃 (chī) and 卟 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 吃?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 口. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 吃?

Common words containing 吃 include: 吃饭 (chī fàn) — to eat a meal; 好吃 (hǎo chī) — delicious; tasty; 小吃 (xiǎo chī) — snack / local specialty food.

How to Write 吃

The character 吃 (chī) is written with 6 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 口 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

吃 is pronounced chī in Mandarin Chinese. It means to eat.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 吃 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 吃

吃饭 chī fàn

to eat a meal

好吃 hǎo chī

delicious; tasty

小吃 xiǎo chī

snack / local specialty food

Example Sentences

我们一起去吃饭吧。

wǒ men yì qǐ qù chī fàn ba

Let's go eat together.

这个菜真的很好吃。

zhè ge cài zhēn de hěn hǎo chī

This dish is really delicious.

这里有很多特色小吃。

zhè lǐ yǒu hěn duō tè sè xiǎo chī

There are many local snacks here.

Similar Characters

卟 bǔ

古 gǔ

句 gōu

Practice Writing 吃 (chī)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 吃 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 吃

What does 吃 (chī) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 吃 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 吃 and 卟?

What mistakes do learners make writing 吃?

What common words use 吃?

How to Write 吃 (chī)