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    Chinese Grammar

    Referring to food with 食物 (shíwù)

    Existence & Possession

    Explanation

    The noun 食物 (shíwù) means "food" in a general sense. It combines 食 (to eat) and 物 (thing/object) to refer to any edible substance. It is a formal term compared to the more colloquial 吃的, and is common in written Chinese, science, and health contexts.

    Examples

    • 冰箱里的食物快吃完了，得去超市买点。

      bīngxiāng lǐ de shíwù kuài chī wánle, děi qù chāoshì mǎi diǎn.

      The food in the fridge is almost gone; we need to go to the supermarket to buy some.

    • 医生说这些食物对身体有好处。

      yīshēng shuō zhèxiē shíwù duì shēntǐ yǒu hǎochù.

      The doctor said these foods are good for the body.

    • 天气热的时候，食物容易变质。

      tiānqì rè de shíhou, shíwù róngyì biànzhì.

      When the weather is hot, food spoils easily.

    Often Confused With

    Referring to food with 食物 (shíwù) | Chinese Grammar