你吃饭了吗？
nǐ chīfàn le ma?
Have you eaten · trad. 你吃飯了嗎？
你吃饭了吗？ (nǐ chīfàn le ma) is a common and friendly Chinese greeting that literally asks "Have you eaten?". It often functions as a warm way to say "How are you?" or "How have you been?", showing care and concern.
What does 你吃饭了吗？ (nǐ chīfàn le ma?) mean?
你吃饭了吗？ (nǐ chīfàn le ma?) means “have you eaten” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “You ate meal?”
When to use it
Neutral and very common. It's a warm, informal greeting among friends, family, or colleagues. A common reply if you have eaten is 吃了 (chī le), and if not, 还没 (hái méi).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "nee CHRR-fahn luh MAH." The "le" is a light, neutral tone, and "ma" is also a light, neutral tone, indicating a question.
Other ways to say it
- 你吃了吗？nǐ chī le ma?Have you eaten? (shorter)
- 吃了吗？chī le ma?Eaten yet? (even shorter)
- 你怎么样？nǐ zěnmeyàng?How are you? (more direct)
Examples
嗨，你吃饭了吗？最近怎么样？
hāi, nǐ chīfàn le ma? zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?
Hey, have you eaten? How have you been lately?
妈妈，你吃饭了吗？我给你带了点心。
māma, nǐ chīfàn le ma? wǒ gěi nǐ dài le diǎnxīn.
Mom, have you eaten? I brought you some snacks.
还没呢，你呢？
hái méi ne, nǐ ne?
Not yet, how about you?
Pro tip: While literally asking about eating, this phrase is primarily a social greeting. Don't feel obligated to give a detailed answer about your meal status unless you want to.
Related phrases
我渴了 · I'm thirsty好喝 · Tasty (drink)我吃饱了 · I'm full
Want to speak Chinese for real?
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →