Definition
饮 is a literary verb meaning 'to drink' in formal or poetic contexts. It also retains the classical sense of 'giving water to animals'. In modern everyday speech, 喝 is more common for 'to drink'; 饮 appears in set phrases (饮水思源) and compound words (饮食, 饮料). Use 饮 when you want a more elevated or classical tone.
v.
to drink (formal/literary)to give water to animals
Examples
- 。Tā měitiān yǐn shuǐ sī yuán.He drinks water and thinks of its source every day (a proverb about gratitude).
- 饮，。Qǐng màn yǐn, chá hěn tàng.Please drink slowly, the tea is very hot.
- 。Nóngfū měitiān gěi mǎ yǐn shuǐ.The farmer gives water to the horses every day.
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