过来吃饭
guòlái chīfàn
The English phrase "come eat" is translated into Chinese as 过来吃饭 (guòlái chīfàn).
过来吃饭 is an invitation used to tell someone to join others for a meal. It is commonly used by hosts or family members to call someone to the dining table when the food is ready.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 过来 (guòlái), meaning "come over" and 吃饭 (chīfàn), meaning "to eat a meal".
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 吧 to the end of 过来吃饭 to create 过来吃饭吧 makes the invitation sound more like a friendly suggestion rather than a command.
How do you pronounce it?
guòlái chīfàn
What mistakes should you avoid?
While 过来吃 (guòlái chī) is understandable, it sounds incomplete or overly blunt to native speakers. Adding 饭 (fàn) to form 吃饭 makes it a complete and natural verb phrase.
When do people say it?
In Chinese culture, it is customary to extend an invitation to eat multiple times because refusing the first offer is common.
Did you know?
- The word 吃 (chī) is used in phrases that have nothing to do with food, such as 吃醋 (chī cù), which literally means 'eat vinegar' but actually means to be jealous.
- In China, asking 你吃饭了吗? ('Have you eaten?') is often used as a general greeting similar to 'How are you?' rather than a literal inquiry about your hunger.
- The phrase 吃饭 can also be used as a euphemism for 'making a living' or 'earning a salary' in professional contexts.
Examples in context
- 朋友们，快来吃啊！Friends, come eat quickly!
- 快过来吃饭吧。Kuài guòlái chīfàn ba.Come and eat quickly.
- 饭菜凉了，快过来吃饭。Fàncài liáng le, kuài guòlái chīfàn.The food is getting cold, come eat.
- 大家都在，你快过来吃饭。Dàjiā dōu zài, nǐ kuài guòlái chīfàn.Everyone is here, come and eat.
Example conversation
A woman calls out to her brother in the living room.
- 佳怡 Jiayi俊杰，快过来吃饭！Jùnjié, kuài guòlái chīfàn!Junjie, come eat!
- 俊杰 Junjie我马上就来。Wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.I'm coming right now.
- 佳怡 Jiayi别玩游戏了。Bié wán yóuxì le.Stop playing games.
- 俊杰 Junjie好，这就过来。Hǎo, zhè jiù guòlái.Okay, I'm coming now.
