Chow
Meaning: Food or a meal — casual slang for something to eat.
'Chow' is a no-nonsense word for food, with military roots. 'Chow time' means mealtime. 'Chow hall' is a military dining facility. In civilian life, 'let's get some chow' is a casual way to suggest eating. It implies basic, filling food rather than anything fancy.
Examples
- Chow time, everybody — come and get it! 开饭了,大伙儿——快来吃!¡A comer, todos — venid a por ello!メシの時間だぞ、みんな——取りに来い!밥 먹을 시간이다, 다들——와서 먹어!
- We grabbed some chow at the diner before hitting the road. 上路前我们在小餐馆吃了顿饭。Comimos algo rápido en el restaurante de carretera antes de ponernos en marcha.出発前にダイナーでメシを食った。출발하기 전에 다이너에서 밥 먹었어.
- The chow at that truck stop was surprisingly decent. 那个卡车休息站的饭菜出奇地不错。La comida de aquella estación de servicio estaba sorprendentemente decente.あのトラックストップのメシは意外とまともだった。그 트럭 정류소 음식이 의외로 괜찮았어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: military, casual meals, everyday speech
Tone: down-to-earth, no-frills
✓ Do Say
- Let's grab some chow.走,去吃点东西。Vamos a pillar algo de comer.メシ食いに行こうぜ。뭐 좀 먹으러 가자.
- Chow time!开饭了!¡Hora de comer!メシの時間だ!밥 시간이다!
✗ Don't Say
- Don't use for fine dining — 'The chow at the French restaurant was excellent' doesn't work. 'Chow' implies simple food不要用于高档餐厅——'The chow at the French restaurant was excellent'说不通。'Chow'暗指的是简单的食物No lo uses para alta cocina — 'The chow at the French restaurant was excellent' no funciona. 'Chow' implica comida sencilla高級料理には使わないこと——「フレンチレストランのchowは素晴らしかった」は不自然。「chow」はシンプルな食べ物を意味する고급 식사에는 사용하지 말 것——'The chow at the French restaurant was excellent'는 어울리지 않는다. 'Chow'는 소박한 음식을 뜻한다
Origin & History
Possibly from Chinese Pidgin English 'chow-chow' (food/mixed things) via the California Gold Rush era. Adopted by the US military in the early 20th century ('chow line,' 'chow hall') and spread to civilian slang.
Cultural Context
Era: Early 20th century, military adoption
Generation: All ages, slightly older-leaning
Social background: Universal
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