食
eat, food
Readings
On'yomi
- ショク
- ジキ
Kun'yomi
- く.う
- く.らう
- た.べる
- は.む
Nanori
- ぐい
Meaning
食 centers on taking in nourishment: eating and food itself. The meanings are tightly linked, with 'eat' as the action and 'food' as what is eaten.
Most common words using 食
24 of 905- 食べるたべるN5
to eat
- 食事しょくじN5
meal (e.g. lunch, dinner)
- 食うくうN3
to eat
- 食しょくN1
food; foodstuff
- 食品しょくひんN3
food; food products; foodstuffs
- 食べ物たべものN5
food
- 飲食いんしょく
food and drink; eating and drinking
- 食料しょくりょうN3
food
- 朝食ちょうしょくN3
breakfast
- 食堂しょくどうN5
dining room; dining hall; cafeteria; canteen; messroom
- 食材しょくざい
foodstuff; ingredient
- 夕食ゆうしょくN3
evening meal; dinner
- 食欲しょくよくN3
appetite (for food)
- 食らうくらう
to eat; to drink; to wolf; to knock back
- 給食きゅうしょくN3
provision of lunch (e.g. at office, school, etc.); providing a meal; lunch service
- 食物しょくもつN3
food; foodstuff
- 昼食ちゅうしょくN3
lunch; midday meal
- 外食がいしょくN3
eating out; dining out
- 定食ていしょくN3
set meal; special (of the day)
- 肉食にくしょくN1
meat eating; eating of meat; meat diet
- 食糧しょくりょうN3
food (esp. staple food such as rice or wheat); provisions; rations; food supply
- 食器しょっきN3
tableware
- 食卓しょくたくN3
dining table
- 食生活しょくせいかつN1
eating habits; diet; dietary pattern
Study
Etymology
食 is a pictograph of a food vessel with a lid. The top 亽 represents the lid, and the bottom 艮 represents the container holding food.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 亽 looks like a lid covering a container 艮 filled with food. Imagine lifting the lid to eat the food inside.
Reading mnemonic
For ショク, picture a shock of flavor when you eat the food: shock -> ショク, and the delicious taste surprises you.