食 (sik6) literally means "to eat." But pair it with the right word and it builds slang for getting rejected, taking the blame, or telling someone off. Here are 6 expressions every learner should know.
Tap a card — the real slang meaning is on the front, the (much funnier) literal translation is on the back.
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Same word, six completely different vibes. Here's how each one actually gets used — and how strong it sounds.
食屎 is much stronger and ruder. 食蕉 can still sound rude depending on tone, but it's usually more joking and less aggressive than 食屎.
食檸檬 is commonly used when someone gets turned down romantically — a lemon standing in for that sour, puckered feeling.
If someone makes you 食死貓, they're pinning responsibility on you for something that genuinely wasn't your fault.
Traditionally used for a man who lives off a woman. It almost always carries a negative, mocking, or teasing tone.
Usually describes a man who frequently pursues women for casual sex. 食女 can sound objectifying and often has a negative, red-flag connotation.
Can be used more broadly for going back to something from the past, but it's especially common — and especially judgmental — in relationship contexts.
8 quick questions covering all 6 expressions. Tap an answer for instant feedback. 加油 (gaa1 jau4)!
Grab the printable PDF of all 6 食 expressions — perfect for keeping by your desk or reviewing offline.
Download the free PDF ↓🔒 Finish the quiz above to unlock the free PDF download of all 6 expressions.
Printed separately from the worksheet above so students don't see it by accident.
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