How common it is
主食 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zhǔ shí slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
主食是指我们每天吃的主要食物，比如米饭、面条或面包。
Zhǔ shí shì zhǐ wǒmen měitiān chī de zhǔyào shíwù, bǐrú mǐfàn, miàntiáo huò miànbāo.
Staple food refers to the main food we eat every day, such as rice, noodles, or bread.
Context note
在吃饭时，主食通常和菜一起吃，帮助我们吃饱。
Zài chīfàn shí, zhǔ shí tōngcháng hé cài yìqǐ chī, bāngzhù wǒmen chī bǎo.
When eating, staple food is usually eaten with dishes to help us feel full.
5 examples
米饭是中国人常吃的主食。
mǐ fàn shì zhōng guó rén cháng chī de zhǔ shí。
Rice is a common staple food for Chinese people.
今天的主食是面条。
jīn tiān de zhǔ shí shì miàn tiáo。
Today's staple food is noodles.
面包是西方人的主食之一。
miàn bāo shì xī fāng rén de zhǔ shí zhī yī。
Bread is one of the staple foods for Western people.
妈妈做了很多主食。
mā ma zuò le hěn duō zhǔ shí。
Mom made a lot of staple food.
我喜欢吃馒头作为主食。
wǒ xǐ huan chī mán tou zuò wéi zhǔ shí。
I like to eat steamed buns as a staple food.
5 mini stories
小明每天吃米饭作为主食。米饭让他有力气。
xiǎo míng měi tiān chī mǐ fàn zuò wéi zhǔ shí。 mǐ fàn ràng tā yǒu lì qi。
Xiao Ming eats rice as a staple food every day. Rice gives him energy.
小红喜欢吃面条当主食。面条很好吃。
xiǎo hóng xǐ huan chī miàn tiáo dāng zhǔ shí。 miàn tiáo hěn hǎo chī。
Xiao Hong likes to eat noodles as a staple food. Noodles are delicious.
小刚的主食是面包。他早上吃面包。
xiǎo gāng de zhǔ shí shì miàn bāo。 tā zǎo shàng chī miàn bāo。
Xiao Gang's staple food is bread. He eats bread in the morning.
学校午餐的主食是米饭。同学们都很喜欢。
xué xiào wǔ cān de zhǔ shí shì mǐ fàn。 tóng xué men dōu hěn xǐ huan。
The staple food for school lunch is rice. The classmates all like it.
奶奶说主食要吃饱。这样身体才健康。
nǎi nai shuō zhǔ shí yào chī bǎo。 zhè yàng shēn tǐ cái jiàn kāng。
Grandma says to eat enough staple food. This way the body is healthy.