用膳 (yòng shàn) — to eat a meal (formal or classical register)

Definition

A formal, classical verb for eating a meal — used in elegant or ceremonial contexts (e.g. courtly speech, banquet invitations), unlike everyday 吃饭. The object 膳 itself is an archaic word for food.

verb
to eat a meal (formal or classical register)

Examples

  • ，用膳。
    Bì xià, qǐng yòng shàn.
    Your Majesty, please have your meal.
  • 。
    Kè rén dōu zài huì suǒ yòng le yí dùn fēng shèng de shàn.
    The guests all had a sumptuous meal at the private club.
  • 用膳。
    Míng rì shàng wǔ shí shí zài yàn huì tīng yòng shàn.
    The meal will be held in the banquet hall at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

用yònguse
膳shànmeal

用 means using and 膳 means a meal; together they mean to eat a meal.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
善
善shàn膳shàn
Same sound today

The left part ⺼ (full form 肉) relates to meat or flesh, and the right part 善 provides the sound.

Open 膳 →

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