HSK 4 · Chinese hanzi
食 — food
- Reading
- shí
- Meaning
- food; eat; (radical)
- HSK level
- HSK 4
- Language
- Chinese
About this hanzi
食 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 4 level. Its primary reading is shí and it means food; eat; (radical). To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
食 appears in everyday chinese words such as 美食 (delicious food), 零食 (snacks, tidbits) and 食品 (food, foodstuffs).
Chinese words containing 食
Frequently asked questions
What does 食 mean in Chinese?
食 means food; eat; (radical) in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 4 hanzi every learner meets at that level.
How is 食 read?
食 is read shí. Reading it inside real words — 美食 and 零食 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 食 — is it HSK 4?
Yes. 食 is on the official HSK 4 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 食 in a word?
A common word containing 食 is 美食 (měi shí) — "delicious food". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 食 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 食 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More HSK 4 hanzi
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