吃饭了吗

Learning Chinese: How to Ask "Have You Eaten?" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 吃饭了吗
Pinyin: chī fàn le ma
Pronunciation: chi1 fan4 le3 ma5
English Translation: Have you eaten?

Usage:

"吃饭了吗 (chī fàn le ma)" is a common way to greet someone in Chinese, especially during mealtimes. It is a polite way to show concern for someone's well-being and to offer food or company.

Example:

Chinese: 吃饭了吗？
Pinyin: Chī fàn le ma?
English: Have you eaten?

Response:

Chinese: 吃了 (chī le)
Pinyin: Chi1 le5
English: Yes, I have.

Chinese: 还没吃 (hái méi chī)
Pinyin: Hai2 mei2 chi1
English: No, I haven't.

Variations:

There are a few variations of "吃饭了吗 (chī fàn le ma)" that you may hear:

你吃饭了吗？(nǐ chī fàn le ma): A more formal way to ask someone if they have eaten.
吃了吗？(chī le ma): A more informal way to ask someone if they have eaten.
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "吃饭了吗 (chī fàn le ma)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers asking "have you eaten?" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "吃饭了吗 (chī fàn le ma)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"吃饭了吗 (chī fàn le ma)" is typically used during mealtimes, but it can also be used as a general greeting at any time of day.
It is considered polite to ask someone if they have eaten before offering them food or inviting them to join you for a meal.
In some regions of China, people may also use "吃了吗 (chī le ma)" as a way to say "hello" or "what's up?"