你在吃什么？
nǐ zài chī shénme?
The English phrase "what are you eating?" is translated into Chinese as 你在吃什么？ (nǐ zài chī shénme?)
This phrase is used to ask someone about the food they are currently consuming.
What does it mean word for word?
When combined with 吃 (chī), the phrase 在吃 (zài chī) functions like the English continuous present "is eating".
Which one should you use?
While 你在吃什么？ is the standard way to ask the question, you may encounter two informal variations. 你在吃什么东西？ is a casual way to ask the question, and 你在吃啥？ uses a colloquial variation of 什么.
How does it change in a sentence?
The combination of 在 (zài) and 吃 (chī) creates the progressive aspect, indicating that the act of eating is currently in progress.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ zài chī shénme?
Did you know?
- In some contexts, asking 你在吃什么？ can be an indirect way of asking what someone's job is, as the word 吃 (chī) can refer to 'earning a living' from a specific trade.
- The word 东西 (dōngxi) in the informal version 你在吃什么东西？ literally translates to 'east-west'. However, when used together, it simply means 'thing' or 'object'.
- The character 吃 (chī) is part of many idioms and metaphors that have nothing to do with actual ingestion. For example, the concept of 'eating bitterness' refers to enduring hardship or suffering in life.
Examples in context
- 你在吃什么？Nǐ zài chī shénme?What are you eating?
- 看起来很好吃，你在吃什么？Kàn qǐlái hěn hǎochī, nǐ zài chī shénme?It looks delicious, what are you eating?
Example conversation
Haoran notices Jiayi eating a snack in the office.
- 浩然 Haoran佳怡，你在吃什么？Jiāyí, nǐ zài chī shénme?Jiayi, what are you eating?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我在吃巧克力。Wǒ zài chī qiǎokèlì.I am eating chocolate.
- 浩然 Haoran可以给我一点吗？Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yīdiǎn ma?Can you give me some?
- 佳怡 Jiayi当然可以。Dāngrán kěyǐ.Of course.
