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    Chinese Grammar

    The noun complement 饭 (fàn) in the separable verb 吃饭

    Topic & Focus

    Structure

    吃 + (Modifier +) 饭

    Explanation

    The noun 饭 (fàn) means "meal" or "cooked rice" and serves as the noun complement in the separable verb 吃饭 (to eat a meal). When elements are inserted between 吃 and 饭, 饭 remains the core object of the verb. It can also appear independently to mean "food" or "rice" in other contexts.

    Examples

    • 今天晚饭我做了你最爱吃的红烧鱼。

      Jīntiān wǎnfàn wǒ zuò le nǐ zuì ài chī de hóngshāo yú.

      Tonight for dinner I made your favorite braised fish in soy sauce.

    • 米饭快好了,再等五分钟。

      Mǐfàn kuài hǎo le, zài děng wǔ fēnzhōng.

      The rice is almost ready, just wait five more minutes.

    • 你吃的什么饭?看起来很好吃。

      Nǐ chī de shénme fàn? Kàn qǐlái hěn hǎochī.

      What did you eat? It looks delicious.

    • 今天晚饭我做了你最爱吃的红烧鱼。

      Jīntiān wǎnfàn wǒ zuò le nǐ zuì ài chī de hóngshāo yú.

      Tonight for dinner I made your favorite braised fish.

    • 米饭快好了,再等五分钟。

      Mǐfàn kuài hǎo le, zài děng wǔ fēnzhōng.

      The rice is almost done; just wait five more minutes.

    • 你吃的什么饭?看起来很好吃。

      Nǐ chī de shénme fàn? Kàn qǐlái hěn hǎochī.

      What did you have to eat? It looks delicious.

    The noun complement 饭 (fàn) in the separable verb 吃饭 | Chinese Grammar