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饮 (yǐn) — to drink (formal/literary); to give water to animals

Definition

饮 (yǐn) is the formal/literary verb 'to drink' — same as 喝 but written, used in proverbs and set phrases like 饮水思源. It also takes a direct object meaning 'to water (animals)'.

verb
to drink (formal/literary)to give water to animals

Examples

  • 。
    Tā měi tiān 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.
  • 。
    Nóng fū měi tiān gěi mǎ yǐn shuǐ.
    The farmer gives water to the horses every day.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 飲; 饮 is its simplified writing.

  • 酉酉yǒubottle (of alcoholic beverages)
  • 人人rénperson
  • 口口kǒumouth (occasionally with the tongue protruding)

The traditional form 飲 drew a person bending over a bottle to drink, with a mouth and droplets; this picture is about 飲, not the simplified 饮.

Appears in
Beverages

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