Definition
讨饭 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to beg for food'. The verb 讨 and the object 饭 can be separated by aspect markers (了, 过) or measure words, as in 讨过饭 ('have begged for food') or 讨了一天的饭 ('begged for food all day'). You cannot put a direct object after 讨饭; instead, say 向某人讨饭 ('beg from someone').
v.o.
to beg for food
Examples
- 讨饭，。Tā bù xiǎng tǎo fàn, dàn méi bànfǎ.He doesn't want to beg for food, but has no choice.
- 。Tā niánqīng shí tǎo guò fàn.He begged for food when he was young.
- 。Tā zài jiē shàng tǎo le yì tiān de fàn.He begged for food on the street all day.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.