早饭

• Pinyin: zǎo fàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 早 = 日 (sun) + 十 — morning; 饭 = 饣 (food radical) + 反 (phonetic) — cooked rice, meal

Meaning

Breakfast. The first meal of the day, eaten in the morning.

The most common spoken word for breakfast in northern China and standard Mandarin. Interchangeable with 早餐, which is slightly more formal. Traditional Chinese breakfasts include 包子, 油条, 豆浆, and 粥. Commonly used with 吃 (eat) and 做 (make).

Examples

1. 你吃早饭了吗？ Have you eaten breakfast?
2. 妈妈做的早饭很好吃。 The breakfast mum made is delicious.
3. 我每天八点吃早饭。 I eat breakfast at eight every day.

Usage Guide

Context: food, daily routine, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 早饭吃什么？(What's for breakfast?)
• 不吃早饭对身体不好。(Skipping breakfast is bad for your health.)

Don't Say

• 我吃了早饭饭。(Redundant — say 我吃了早饭, not 早饭饭)

Origin & History

Composed of 早 (early, morning) + 饭 (cooked rice, meal). Literally 'morning meal.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal