Definition
吃饭 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to eat a meal' or, figuratively, 'to make a living'. The verb 吃 and the object 饭 can split apart — you can insert measure words (吃一顿饭), result complements (吃完饭), or durations (吃了两个小时饭) between them. In its figurative sense, it often appears in the pattern 靠...吃饭 to describe how someone earns a living (他靠开车吃饭).
v.o.
to eatto have a mealto make a livingto earn a living
Examples
- 。Wǒmen míngtiān yìqǐ chī yí dùn fàn.Let's eat a meal together tomorrow.
- 吃饭。Tā kào kāichē chī fàn.He makes a living by driving.
- 吃饭。Wǒ měitiān zhōngwǔ zài xuéxiào chī fàn.I eat at school every day at noon.
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