吃不上

• Pinyin: chī bu shàng
• Desglose de hanzi: 吃 = 口 (mouth) + 乞 (beg) = to eat; 不上 = unable to achieve

Significado

No poder comer; quedarse sin comer; no llegar a comer (por circunstancias).

Can indicate inability due to poverty, time constraints, or circumstances. The potential complement 不上 suggests the action cannot be achieved or reached.

Ejemplos

1. 他小时候家里穷，经常吃不上饭。
2. 工作太忙，中午常常吃不上饭。
3. 因为堵车，我赶不上食堂，今天吃不上午饭了。

Guía de uso

Contexto: poverty, busy life, circumstances

Tono: matter-of-fact

Correcto

• 再不走就吃不上饭了。(If we don't leave now, we'll miss the meal.)
• 以前吃不上肉，现在天天都能吃到。(We used to not be able to afford meat; now we can have it every day.)

Incorrecto

• 我不饿所以吃不上 (吃不上 implies external inability, not personal choice — use 不想吃 for not wanting to eat)

Origen e historia

Verb-complement structure: 吃 (to eat) + 不上 (unable to achieve/reach). Part of the productive 'V不上' pattern.

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal