吃不上

• 拼音: chī bu shàng
• 汉字拆解: 吃 = 口 (mouth) + 乞 (beg) = to eat; 不上 = unable to achieve

含义

Unable to eat; cannot afford to eat; to miss a meal. To lack access to food.

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

例句

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。

用法指南

语境: poverty, busy life, circumstances

语气: matter-of-fact

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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)

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal