Definition
乞食 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to beg for food' — it's a more formal or literary term than the everyday 要饭. You can split the syllables to insert measure words or other elements, e.g. 乞过食 ('have begged for food'). It's not commonly used in modern daily conversation; you'll encounter it more in historical texts, classical literature, or formal discussions about poverty.
v.o.
to beg for food
Examples
- 乞食。Tā qióng de zhǐ néng qǐ shí.He was so poor he could only beg for food.
- 。Nà ge qǐgài zài jiē shàng qǐ guò jǐ cì shí.That beggar has begged for food on the street several times.
- 乞食。Gǔdài hěnduō nànmín kào qǐ shí huómìng.In ancient times, many refugees survived by begging for food.
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