Looking up...
食う
kuu
What does "食う" mean in English?
to eat私はパンを食べた。
I ate bread.
How to use "食う" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
informal
To consume food by eating; to ingest food.
彼は急いで朝ごはんを食べた。
He ate breakfast in a hurry.
In informal contexts, '食う' is often used instead of the more polite '食べる'.
informal
To defeat or overcome someone or something (figurative).
彼はその試合で相手を食った。
He defeated his opponent in that match.
This figurative usage is common in sports or competitive contexts.
informal
To be affected by or suffer from something (figurative).
彼は不安に食われた。
He was eaten up by anxiety.
This usage implies being overwhelmed by an emotion or situation.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Informal Usage
'食う' is more casual and can be seen as impolite in formal settings. Use '食べる' for polite contexts.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of '食う' can vary significantly based on context, from literal eating to figurative defeat or suffering.
Word Origin
Derived from the verb '食う' (kuu), which is an informal variant of '食べる' (taberu). The kanji '食' means 'eat' or 'food'.
Usage Notes
'食う' is considered more casual and sometimes vulgar compared to '食べる'. It is commonly used in informal speech and writing.
Word Breakdown
食
eat or food
rootう
verb ending, informal
suffix和英辞典