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A2 verb #6,000 most common 8 min read

填饱

tiánbǎo Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 填饱 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 填饱 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just learning the basics of survival Chinese. While '填饱' might be a bit advanced, you can understand it as 'filling the stomach.' Think of it as 'eat + full.' You use it when you are very hungry and need to eat anything to feel better. It's like saying 'I need food now!' in a simple way. You will mostly see it with the word '肚子' (stomach).

At the A2 level, you can start using '填饱' to describe your daily routine. For example, if you are busy studying or working, you might say you just want to '填饱肚子' (fill your stomach) quickly. It shows you understand the difference between eating for fun and eating because you have to. You'll use it in sentences like '我吃了一个面包，填饱了肚子' (I ate a piece of bread and filled my stomach).

At the B1 level, you can use '填饱' in more complex social and economic contexts. You might talk about how people in different countries struggle to '填饱肚子' (meet their basic food needs). You also start to see the 'potential complement' form: '填得饱' (can fill up) and '填不饱' (cannot fill up). This adds nuance to your speaking, allowing you to describe things that are or aren't satisfying.

At the B2 level, '填饱' becomes a tool for more descriptive and metaphorical language. You might use it to discuss social issues like the wealth gap—where some people feast while others can barely '填饱肚子.' You also understand the stylistic choice of using '填' (to stuff) instead of '吃' (to eat) to emphasize the utility of the food or the desperation of the hunger.

At the C1 level, you recognize '填饱' in literature and formal essays. It often appears in discussions of human nature and greed. For example, the phrase '填不饱的私欲' (insatiable selfish desires) uses the concept of 'filling the stomach' to describe abstract greed. You can use it to contrast basic physical needs with higher spiritual or intellectual pursuits in complex debates.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of the word's connotations. You can use it ironically or within specific historical allegories. You understand how the transition from a society focused on '填饱肚子' to one focused on 'quality of life' reflects China's modern history. You use the term with precision in academic writing or high-level political analysis regarding food security and social stability.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

填饱 in 30 Seconds

A verb meaning 'to fill the stomach' or satisfy hunger.
Commonly used as '填饱肚子' in daily conversation.
Implies eating for utility or survival rather than luxury.
A resultative verb structure: 填 (fill) + 饱 (full).

The Chinese verb 填饱 (tiánbǎo) is a quintessential resultative compound that captures the most fundamental human need: satiation. At its core, it is composed of two characters: 填 (tián), meaning 'to fill' or 'to stuff,' and 饱 (bǎo), meaning 'full' or 'satiated.' When combined, they describe the act of consuming enough food to satisfy hunger, literally 'filling oneself to the point of being full.' This word is deeply rooted in a culture where food security was historically a primary concern, making the act of 'filling the stomach' a significant daily milestone rather than a mere chore. In modern usage, while the fear of famine has largely receded in urban centers, the term remains a staple of everyday conversation, used to describe the basic goal of a meal, especially when one is in a hurry or prioritizing utility over culinary luxury.

Functional Utility: Unlike '吃饱' (chībǎo), which simply means 'to have eaten enough,' 填饱 implies a more active, almost mechanical process of filling a void. It is often used when the quality of the food is secondary to the necessity of stopping hunger.
Social Context: It is frequently used in discussions about poverty, hard work, or busy schedules where one only has time to 'fill the stomach' before returning to tasks.

我先随便吃点东西填饱肚子，等会儿还要加班。 (I'll just grab something to fill my stomach; I have to work overtime later.)

The nuances of 填饱 extend beyond the physical. In literature and social commentary, it is often paired with '肚子' (dùzi - stomach) to represent the 'bread and butter' issues of life. When a politician or economist speaks of 填饱肚子, they are referring to the most basic level of economic survival for the populace. It is the baseline of the hierarchy of needs. If you are 'filling your stomach,' you are not yet 'dining' (用餐) or 'feasting' (大快朵颐); you are simply meeting a biological requirement. This makes the word feel grounded, practical, and sometimes slightly weary, reflecting the grind of daily life where one eats to live rather than lives to eat.

在那个贫穷的年代，能填饱肚子就是最大的幸福。 (In those poor times, being able to fill one's stomach was the greatest happiness.)

Grammatically, 填饱 (tiánbǎo) functions as a resultative verb. This means the second character '饱' describes the result of the action '填'. In Chinese, resultative verbs are extremely common and follow specific structural rules. Most importantly, 填饱 almost always takes '肚子' (stomach) as its direct object. While you can technically say '填饱了' (filled and full), the full phrase '填饱肚子' (fill the stomach) is the standard idiomatic way to express the concept. This structure is transitive, meaning you are doing the action to your stomach or someone else's.

The 'Ba' Construction: You will often see 填饱 used in '把' (bǎ) sentences, which emphasize the disposal or transformation of the object. For example: '先把肚子填饱' (First, get your stomach filled).

你得先填饱肚子，才有力气干活。 (You must fill your stomach first so that you have the strength to work.)

Another key aspect is the use of aspect particles like '了' (le) or '想' (xiǎng). '填饱了' indicates the completion of the state—you are no longer hungry. '想填饱' indicates a desire. Interestingly, 填饱 is rarely used with '着' (zhe) because it is a result-oriented verb rather than a continuous action. You are either filling it or it is filled. Furthermore, it can be used in the negative form using '没' or '不'. '没填饱' means you tried to eat but are still hungry, whereas '填不饱' (using the potential complement) suggests that no matter how much you eat, you cannot become full—often used metaphorically for greed.

这点零食根本填不饱我的肚子。 (This little snack simply cannot fill my stomach.)

In the real world, 填饱 appears in several distinct linguistic environments. The first is the 'rushed professional' environment. In bustling cities like Shanghai or Beijing, you'll hear office workers saying they need to find something to '填饱肚子' during a 15-minute lunch break. Here, it conveys a sense of efficiency. They aren't looking for a 'culinary experience'; they are looking for fuel. It's the language of convenience stores, street food stalls, and quick bento boxes. If you're at a high-end Michelin restaurant, you wouldn't use 填饱; it would be considered slightly uncouth or dismissive of the chef's art.

News and Media: In news reports about global hunger, economic crises, or humanitarian aid, '填饱肚子' is the standard term for basic food security. It highlights the gravity of the situation.

对于灾民来说，目前最紧迫的是填饱肚子。 (For the disaster victims, the most urgent thing right now is to fill their stomachs.)

The second environment is the 'parental/grandparental' sphere. Chinese elders, who may have lived through times of scarcity, are obsessed with whether the younger generation has 'filled their stomachs.' You might hear a grandmother ask, '填饱了吗？' with a level of concern that implies more than just a casual question. It is an expression of love and care. Thirdly, you'll find it in metaphorical contexts. A 'hungry' mind might need to be 'filled' with knowledge, though this is a more creative, slightly non-standard use. More commonly, it’s used to describe someone who is never satisfied: '他的欲望是填不饱的' (His desires are insatiable).

随便吃点，能填饱就行。 (Eat whatever; as long as it fills the stomach, it's fine.)

The most frequent mistake learners make with 填饱 is confusing it with 吃饱 (chībǎo). While they both translate to 'being full,' the nuance is different. '吃饱' is the neutral, standard way to say you've finished eating and are full. '填饱' is more descriptive of the process and often implies a sense of urgency or filling a literal gap. If you are a guest at someone's house and they ask if you've had enough, you should answer with '我吃饱了.' Saying '我填饱了' might sound a bit like you were just 'stuffing' yourself, which could inadvertently sound slightly rude to the host who prepared a nice meal.

Object Omission: Learners often forget to include '肚子' (dùzi). While '填饱了' is grammatically okay in isolation, the phrase '填饱肚子' is much more natural and common in spoken Chinese.

Incorrect: 我用苹果填饱了。 (I filled with apples.)
Correct: 我用苹果填饱了肚子。 (I filled my stomach with apples.)

Another error is using 填饱 for non-food contexts where '充满' (chōngmǎn) or '填满' (tiánmǎn) would be more appropriate. For instance, you wouldn't use 填饱 to say a room is 'filled' with people or a heart is 'filled' with joy. 填饱 is strictly for the physical sensation of satiety (or metaphorical greed/hunger). Finally, watch the tone. '填' is second tone (tián) and '饱' is third tone (bǎo). Because of tone sandhi, the third tone '饱' is fully pronounced, but if it were followed by another third tone, it would change. In this case, it's usually at the end of the verb phrase, so focus on the rising 'tián' and the low-dipping 'bǎo'.

Understanding the family of 'fullness' words in Chinese will help you choose the right term for the right situation. 填饱 sits in the middle of the spectrum between survival and satisfaction. Let's look at its neighbors to see how they differ in register and meaning.

吃饱 (chībǎo): The most common, neutral term. It focuses on the act of eating (吃) leading to fullness (饱). Use this 90% of the time in social situations.
充饥 (chōngjī): Literally 'to block hunger.' This is used when you eat just enough to stop the pain of hunger, usually with a snack. It's more formal and less about 'filling' than 'stopping'.
饱餐 (bǎocān): A more literary or formal term meaning 'to eat a full meal.' It often implies a large, satisfying feast.

Comparison:
1. 我随便吃点填饱肚子。(I'll eat whatever to fill up.)
2. 我吃饱了，谢谢。(I'm full, thanks.)
3. 这种饼干只能用来充饥。(These cookies are only for staving off hunger.)

There is also 饱腹感 (bǎofùgǎn), which is a noun meaning 'satiety' or 'the feeling of being full,' often used in health and diet contexts. If you want to be very informal or even a bit crude, you could use 塞满 (sāimǎn), which means 'to stuff full,' but this lacks the specific 'satiety' meaning of 饱. In summary, 填饱 is your go-to word for 'filling the tank'—it’s practical, slightly evocative of the physical sensation of the stomach expanding, and perfect for situations where the goal is simply to no longer be hungry.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient China, '饱' was a luxury. The character '包' in '饱' also carries the meaning of a fetus in a womb, metaphorically linking the fullness of a stomach to the fullness of pregnancy.

Pronunciation Guide

UK tiæn²¹⁴ baʊ̯²¹⁴

US tiæn²¹⁴ baʊ̯²¹⁴

Equal stress on both syllables, with a slight emphasis on 'bǎo' to indicate the result.

Rhymes With

田 (tián) 甜 (tián) 宝 (bǎo) 跑 (pǎo) 早 (zǎo) 草 (cǎo) 表 (biǎo) 少 (shǎo)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'tián' as 1st tone (flat).
Pronouncing 'bǎo' as 4th tone (falling).
Mumbling the 'n' in 'tián'.
Mixing up 'tián' with 'tiān' (heaven).
Failing to dip low enough on 'bǎo'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Characters are relatively common but '填' has many strokes.

Writing 3/5

Writing '填' and '饱' correctly requires attention to radicals.

Speaking 2/5

Tone sandhi is not a major issue here, but 2nd-3rd tone transition needs practice.

Listening 2/5

Easily recognized in context of food.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

吃饱肚子饿想

Learn Next

充饥满意满足营养健康

Advanced

中饱私囊食不果腹饥肠辘辘大快朵颐垂涎三尺

Grammar to Know

Resultative Complements (动补结构)

填 (action) + 饱 (result).

Potential Complements

填得饱 / 填不饱.

The 'Ba' Sentence (把字句)

把他肚子填饱。

Verb-Object Phrases

填饱 (Verb) + 肚子 (Object).

Adverbial Placement

很快地填饱。

Examples by Level

我要填饱肚子。

I want to fill my stomach.

Subject + Verb + Object.

面包可以填饱肚子。

Bread can fill the stomach.

Can (可以) + Verb.

你填饱了吗？

Are you full (stomach filled)?

Question with '吗'.

我还没填饱肚子。

I haven't filled my stomach yet.

Negative with '还没'.

多吃点，填饱肚子。

Eat more, fill your stomach.

Imperative sentence.

这些够填饱肚子吗？

Is this enough to fill the stomach?

Enough (够) + Verb.

他很快就填饱了肚子。

He quickly filled his stomach.

Adverb (很快) + Verb.

我们去填饱肚子吧。

Let's go fill our stomachs.

Suggestion with '吧'.

我只想先填饱肚子再干活。

I just want to fill my stomach first before working.

First... then... (先...再...).

这点饭填不饱我的肚子。

This little bit of rice won't fill my stomach.

Potential complement (填不饱).

他在路边随便买了点东西填饱肚子。

He grabbed some food on the roadside to fill his stomach.

Adverbial phrase of place.

为了填饱肚子，他必须努力工作。

In order to fill his stomach, he must work hard.

Purpose clause (为了...).

你填饱肚子了吗？我们该走了。

Have you filled your stomach? We should go.

Completed action '了'.

这些饼干能填饱肚子吗？

Can these cookies fill the stomach?

Modal verb '能'.

我肚子饿得厉害，得赶紧填饱它。

I'm extremely hungry; I need to fill it quickly.

Degree complement (饿得厉害).

只要能填饱肚子，吃什么都行。

As long as it fills the stomach, anything is fine.

Conditional (只要...).

即使生活艰苦，他也努力填饱家人的肚子。

Even if life is hard, he works hard to fill his family's stomachs.

Even if (即使).

这种食物虽然不好吃，但能填饱肚子。

Although this food doesn't taste good, it can fill the stomach.

Although... but... (虽然...但...).

在那个年代，人们唯一的愿望就是填饱肚子。

In those days, people's only wish was to fill their stomachs.

Noun phrase as subject.

别只顾着填饱肚子，也要注意营养。

Don't just focus on filling your stomach; pay attention to nutrition too.

Don't just... (别只顾着...).

他狼吞虎咽地填饱了肚子。

He filled his stomach by devouring the food ravenously.

Idiomatic adverb (狼吞虎咽地).

你觉得这些钱够填饱他们的肚子吗？

Do you think this money is enough to fill their stomachs?

Embedded question.

我通常用快餐来填饱肚子。

I usually use fast food to fill my stomach.

Using '用...来...'.

他为了填饱肚子，什么苦都能吃。

He can endure any hardship just to fill his stomach.

Resultative meaning.

一个连肚子都填不饱的人，很难谈论理想。

A person who can't even fill their stomach finds it hard to talk about ideals.

Even (连...都...).

金钱填饱了他的口袋，却填不饱他的内心。

Money filled his pockets but couldn't fill his heart.

Metaphorical use.

政府的首要任务是让每个公民都能填饱肚子。

The government's primary task is to let every citizen fill their stomach.

Causative verb (让).

他那填不饱的贪欲最终害了他自己。

His insatiable greed eventually harmed him.

Attributive clause.

与其追求山珍海味，不如先填饱肚子。

Instead of pursuing delicacies, it's better to fill the stomach first.

Preference (与其...不如...).

仅仅填饱肚子是不够的，我们还需要精神食粮。

Simply filling the stomach is not enough; we also need spiritual food.

Adverb (仅仅).

他靠着微薄的薪水勉强填饱肚子。

He barely managed to fill his stomach on a meager salary.

Adverb (勉强).

在这个物欲横流的社会，人们的欲望永远填不饱。

In this materialistic society, people's desires are never satisfied.

Negative potential complement.

对于那些挣扎在贫困线上的人来说，填饱肚子已是奢望。

For those struggling on the poverty line, filling the stomach is already a luxury.

Complex prepositional phrase.

他的作品不仅仅是为了填饱肚子，更是为了表达思想。

His work is not just to fill his stomach, but more to express ideas.

Not just... but more... (不仅仅...更是...).

贪婪如同一口填不饱的深井。

Greed is like an insatiable deep well.

Simile (如同).

当基本的生存需求——填饱肚子——得到满足后，人们才会追求艺术。

Only after basic survival needs—filling the stomach—are met will people pursue art.

Appositive structure.

他试图用物质的享受来填饱灵魂的空虚。

He tried to fill the emptiness of his soul with material enjoyment.

Abstract usage.

这篇文章深刻地探讨了如何填饱全球数十亿人的肚子。

This article deeply explores how to fill the stomachs of billions worldwide.

Interrogative phrase as object.

由于连年战乱，这里的百姓连填饱肚子都成了问题。

Due to years of war, filling their stomachs has become a problem for the local people.

Causal link (由于).

他那填不饱的野心促使他不断地扩张版图。

His insatiable ambition drove him to constantly expand his territory.

Personification of ambition.

在宏观经济政策中，填饱肚子往往是社会稳定的基石。

In macroeconomic policy, filling the stomach is often the cornerstone of social stability.

Formal academic register.

这种消费主义文化制造了一种永远填不饱的匮乏感。

This consumerist culture creates a sense of scarcity that can never be filled.

Sociological terminology.

如果一个体制不能让其子民填饱肚子，其合法性必然受到质疑。

If a system cannot let its subjects fill their stomachs, its legitimacy will inevitably be questioned.

Conditional logic.

他笔下的角色往往在填饱肚子与保持尊严之间苦苦挣扎。

The characters in his writing often struggle bitterly between filling their stomachs and maintaining dignity.

Literary analysis.

人类的探索欲正如填不饱的胃，驱使我们走向星辰大海。

Human curiosity is like an insatiable stomach, driving us toward the stars and the sea.

Metaphorical extension.

在全球化背景下，如何填饱每一个人的肚子是一个极其复杂的伦理命题。

In the context of globalization, how to fill everyone's stomach is an extremely complex ethical proposition.

Abstract noun phrase.

他以一种近乎自虐的方式，仅靠最廉价的口粮填饱肚子以完成学业。

In an almost self-torturing way, he filled his stomach with only the cheapest rations to complete his studies.

Descriptive adverbials.

这种填不饱的求知欲是他成功的关键。

This insatiable thirst for knowledge is the key to his success.

Positive metaphorical use.

Common Collocations

填饱肚子

填不饱

勉强填饱

足以填饱

设法填饱

无法填饱

填得饱

用来填饱

赶紧填饱

试图填饱

Common Phrases

填饱肚子

— To satisfy one's basic hunger.

在野外，填饱肚子是首要任务。

填不饱的胃

— An insatiable appetite (literal or metaphorical).

他有一个填不饱的胃。

填饱私囊

— To line one's pockets (corruptly).

有些官员只顾填饱私囊。

填饱眼福

— To feast one's eyes (metaphorical).

这场画展让我们填饱了眼福。

仅仅填饱

— Only just filling the stomach.

这些钱仅仅够填饱肚子。

为了填饱

— In order to fill the stomach.

他为了填饱肚子到处打工。

填饱了没

— Are you full yet? (informal).

你填饱了没？没饱再吃点。

填饱饥肠

— To fill a hungry stomach (literary).

用热汤填饱饥肠。

填饱口袋

— To fill one's pockets (money).

这个生意能填饱你的口袋。

填饱灵魂

— To fill the soul (metaphorical).

阅读可以填饱灵魂。

Often Confused With

填饱 vs 吃饱

吃饱 is neutral; 填饱 emphasizes the act of filling a void.

填饱 vs 填满

填满 is for containers or spaces; 填饱 is for stomachs/satiety.

填饱 vs 充满

充满 is for abstract feelings or being full of something (like joy).

Idioms & Expressions

"饥不择食"

— When hungry, one doesn't choose what to eat.

他饿极了，真是饥不择食，随便抓起冷饭就填饱肚子。

Literary

"狼吞虎咽"

— To wolf down food.

他狼吞虎咽地填饱了肚子。

Colloquial

"食不果腹"

— Not having enough to eat (literary).

在旧社会，许多人食不果腹，更别提填饱肚子了。

Formal

"酒足饭饱"

— Fully satisfied with food and drink.

客人门酒足饭饱，满意地离开了。

Neutral

"丰衣足食"

— Having ample food and clothing.

我们追求的是丰衣足食的生活，而不仅仅是填饱肚子。

Neutral

"中饱私囊"

— To embezzle; to line one's own pockets.

他利用职权中饱私囊。

Formal

"贪得无厌"

— Insatiable greed.

他的贪欲填不饱，真是贪得无厌。

Formal

"饱经风霜"

— Having experienced many hardships (uses '饱' as 'fully experienced').

这位老人饱经风霜。

Literary

"大快朵颐"

— To feast with great relish.

面对美食，他大快朵颐，填饱了肚子。

Literary

"粗茶淡饭"

— Simple food.

虽然只是粗茶淡饭，但也能填饱肚子。

Humble

Easily Confused

填饱 vs 吃饱

Both mean 'full'.

吃饱 focuses on the eating action, 填饱 focuses on the filling/satisfying hunger aspect.

我吃饱了 vs. 我得去填饱肚子。

填饱 vs 填充

Both use '填'.

填充 is technical (filling a form or a cushion).

填充鸭绒 vs. 填饱肚子。

填饱 vs 填补

Both use '填'.

填补 is for gaps, vacancies, or deficits.

填补空白 vs. 填饱肚子。

填饱 vs 充饥

Both involve stopping hunger.

充饥 is usually for snacks or temporary relief; 填饱 is more about reaching a full state.

吃点饼干充饥。

填饱 vs 饱满

Both use '饱'.

饱满 is an adjective meaning plump or full of spirit.

精神饱满。

Sentence Patterns

我想填饱肚子。

用[Food]填饱肚子。

用面包填饱肚子。

为了...填饱肚子。

为了生存而填饱肚子。

连...都填不饱。

连肚子都填不饱。

不仅仅是填饱肚子。

不仅仅是填饱肚子，还要追求质量。

填不饱的[Abstract Noun]。

填不饱的野心。

只要...就能填饱。

只要有米饭就能填饱。

先填饱肚子再[Action]。

先填饱肚子再去上学。

Word Family

Nouns

饱腹感 (satiety)

填充物 (filler)

Verbs

填充 (to fill)

填写 (to fill out)

填补 (to fill a gap)

Adjectives

饱满 (full/plump)

饱学 (learned)

肚子

胃

粮食

饥饿

满足

How to Use It

frequency

High in daily life and social news.

Common Mistakes

我填饱了饭。 → 我吃饱了饭 / 我用饭填饱了肚子。
You fill the stomach, you don't 'fill the food.'
这个瓶子填饱了水。 → 这个瓶子装满了水。
'饱' is only for living beings with stomachs.
填饱知识。 → 丰富知识 / 填补知识空白。
Knowledge isn't a physical stomach.
我很填饱。 → 我很饱。
填饱 is a verb, not an adjective. You can't be 'very fill-full.'
不填饱。 → 填不饱。
In potential complements, the '不' goes between the action and the result.

Tips

Resultative Complement

Always remember that '饱' is the result of '填'. If there is no result, you just use '填'.

Historical Context

Understand that 'filling the stomach' was a major historical goal in China, which gives the word more weight.

Pairing

90% of the time, 填饱 is paired with 肚子. Learn them as a single unit: 填饱肚子.

Tone Accuracy

The second tone in 'tián' should rise clearly to distinguish it from the first tone 'tiān'.

Metaphor

Use '填不饱' to describe greed or a bottomless pit of desire.

Politeness

Use '吃饱' when thanking a host for a nice meal.

Stroke Order

Pay attention to the 'food' radical in '饱'; it's specific to eating.

Context Clues

If you hear 'tián', 'bǎo', and 'dùzi', you know exactly what's happening: someone is eating!

Idiomatic Use

Learn '填饱私囊' to talk about corruption in a native-like way.

Level Up

Transition from A1 '吃' to A2 '填饱' to show better vocabulary range.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Tian' (sounds like 'tin') and 'Bao' (sounds like 'bow'). You fill a 'tin' bowl to 'bow' out of the hunger game.

Visual Association

Imagine a shovel (填) putting rice into a large, round stomach (饱).

Word Web

Food Stomach Rice Full Satisfied Hungry Eat Work

Challenge

Try to say '填饱肚子' three times fast without losing the rising tone on 'tián'.

Word Origin

The word is a resultative compound. '填' (tián) consists of the 'earth' radical (土) and 'true/solid' (真), originally meaning to fill a hole with earth. '饱' (bǎo) consists of the 'food' radical (饣) and 'wrap' (包), suggesting the stomach is wrapped/full with food.

Original meaning: To fill a cavity (the stomach) with food until satiated.

Sino-Tibetan / Sinitic

Cultural Context

Be careful using it when hosting a formal dinner; it might imply you only care about the quantity of food, not the quality or the guest's enjoyment.

In English, 'filling one's stomach' can sound a bit animalistic or purely functional. We often prefer 'getting full' or 'having a meal.'

Mentioned in social realist literature (e.g., Lu Xun) to describe the plight of the poor. Common theme in 'Scar Literature' regarding the Cultural Revolution. Frequent in modern Chinese rap to describe the 'hustle' to survive.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Lunch break at work

没时间了
随便吃点
填饱肚子
回公司

Discussing poverty

生存
困难
填饱肚子
救助

Hiking/Outdoors

干粮
体力
填饱
继续走

Late night snack

有点饿
填个饱
宵夜
方便面

Metaphorical greed

欲望
贪婪
永远
填不饱

Conversation Starters

"你通常午饭怎么填饱肚子？"

"如果只有五分钟，你会吃什么来填饱肚子？"

"你觉得现在的年轻人还担心填不饱肚子吗？"

"有什么食物是你觉得最能填饱肚子的？"

"你有没有过怎么吃都填不饱肚子的时候？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你非常饿，急于填饱肚子的经历。

谈谈你对‘填饱肚子’和‘享受美食’之间区别的看法。

如果社会上每个人都能填饱肚子，世界会变成什么样？

写一段话，描述一个人如何用简单的食物填饱肚子并感到满足。

探讨‘填不饱的欲望’对人类进步是好是坏。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but '填饱肚子' is much more common. '胃' (wèi) is more anatomical, while '肚子' (dùzi) is more general and colloquial.

Not inherently, but it sounds functional. If someone cooks you a gourmet meal, saying 'I filled my stomach' might sound like you didn't appreciate the taste, just the calories.

Use '填饱' for people/animals getting full. Use '填满' for bottles, boxes, or rooms being full.

It's a bit metaphorical. You'd more likely say '充实自己' or '填补知识的空白.' However, '填饱求知欲' is sometimes used creatively.

You can use '填不饱的' followed by the noun, like '填不饱的欲望' (insatiable desire).

It is one compound verb: tiánbǎo.

Yes, it's very common and easy to understand for children.

Mostly, yes. It's used in 'filling out forms' (填写) and 'filling gaps' (填补).

The most direct opposite is '挨饿' (to starve) or '肚子饿' (to be hungry).

Only metaphorically, like '填饱私囊' (lining pockets/corruption) or '填饱市场需求' (though '满足需求' is better).