About
The character "餐", meaning a meal or to eat, has a structural composition that directly illustrates its original function. Its traditional form, which remains in use today, combines the component "歺", a variant form often associated with remnants or bones, placed above the character "食" for food. This arrangement conceptually portrays the act of consuming food, with the upper element possibly hinting at the remnants left after eating. Initially serving primarily as a verb meaning "to eat", its usage naturally expanded to encompass the noun form denoting the specific instances of eating, namely the meals themselves, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Over time, while retaining its core association with eating, the character also found application in more formal or quantitative contexts, such as referring to a set course meal or, in modern casual usage, being employed as a verbal classifier for meals.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我每天吃早餐。
午餐我们吃面条。
晚上我们去餐厅吃饭。
这家餐厅的餐具很干净。
快餐通常不太健康。
周末我们喜欢聚餐。
餐饮行业竞争很激烈。
他负责安排公司的午餐会议。