Definitions

cān (noun) meal
cān (verb) to eat; to have a meal

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and 𣦼 represents the sound.

Semantic:

About

The character "餐" is structured with the radical "食" on the left, indicating its association with food, and the component "歺" on the top right, which historically functioned as a phonetic element. Its etymology relates directly to the act of eating, as seen in early Chinese texts where it denoted consuming food, and over time its meaning extended to encompass the meal itself, leading to its use in modern compounds for specific dining occasions such as breakfast or dinner. The character's form has not undergone simplification, and its components consistently highlight its connection to nourishment.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我每天吃早

Wǒ měi tiān chī zǎo cān.

I eat breakfast every day.

我们吃面条。

Wǔ cān wǒ men chī miàn tiáo.

We eat noodles for lunch.

晚上我们去厅吃饭。

Wǎn shàng wǒ men qù cān tīng chī fàn.

In the evening, we go to the restaurant to eat.

这家厅的具很干净。

Zhè jiā cān tīng de cān jù hěn gān jìng.

The tableware in this restaurant is very clean.

通常不太健康。

Kuài cān tōng cháng bù tài jiàn kāng.

Fast food is usually not very healthy.

周末我们喜欢聚

Zhōu mò wǒ men xǐ huān jù cān.

On weekends, we like to dine together.

饮行业竞争很激烈。

Cān yǐn háng yè jìng zhēng hěn jī liè.

The food and beverage industry is very competitive.

他负责安排公司的午会议。

Tā fù zé ān pái gōng sī de wǔ cān huì yì.

He is responsible for arranging the company's lunch meetings.