How common it is
食用 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say shí yòng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
食用是指可以吃的东西，比如水果、蔬菜和米饭。
Shí yòng shì zhǐ kěyǐ chī de dōngxi, bǐrú shuǐguǒ, shūcài hé mǐfàn.
Edible means things that can be eaten, like fruits, vegetables, and rice.
Context note
在超市里，我们买食用盐和食用油来做饭。
Zài chāoshì lǐ, wǒmen mǎi shí yòng yán hé shí yòng yóu lái zuò fàn.
In the supermarket, we buy edible salt and edible oil to cook.
5 examples
这个苹果是食用的。
zhè ge píng guǒ shì shí yòng de。
This apple is edible.
食用蘑菇很健康。
shí yòng mó gu hěn jiàn kāng。
Edible mushrooms are very healthy.
请只买食用的东西。
qǐng zhī mǎi shí yòng de dōng xī。
Please only buy edible things.
这些花不是食用的。
zhè xiē huā bú shì shí yòng de。
These flowers are not edible.
食用色素让蛋糕更漂亮。
shí yòng sè sù ràng dàn gāo gèng piào liang。
Edible coloring makes the cake prettier.
5 mini stories
小明在花园里摘了一个红红的草莓。他问妈妈这个草莓是不是食用的。
xiǎo míng zài huā yuán lǐ zhāi le yí gè hóng hóng de cǎo méi。 tā wèn mā ma zhè ge cǎo méi shì bu shì shí yòng de。
Xiao Ming picked a red strawberry in the garden. He asked his mom if this strawberry is edible.
小华在厨房帮妈妈做饭。她小心地使用食用盐。
xiǎo huá zài chú fáng bāng mā ma zuò fàn。 tā xiǎo xīn dì shǐ yòng shí yòng yán。
Xiao Hua helped her mom cook in the kitchen. She carefully used edible salt.
老师带来了一盒食用花。小朋友们都很开心地尝了尝。
lǎo shī dài lái le yì hé shí yòng huā。 xiǎo péng yǒu men dōu hěn kāi xīn dì cháng le cháng。
The teacher brought a box of edible flowers. The children happily tasted them.
小丽在超市里找食用的零食。她选了一包健康的坚果。
xiǎo lì zài chāo shì lǐ zhǎo shí yòng de líng shí。 tā xuǎn le yì bāo jiàn kāng de jiān guǒ。
Xiao Li looked for edible snacks in the supermarket. She chose a pack of healthy nuts.
爸爸教小刚认识食用的植物。他们一起种了西红柿。
bà ba jiào xiǎo gāng rèn shi shí yòng de zhí wù。 tā men yì qǐ zhǒng le xī hóng shì。
Dad taught Xiao Gang about edible plants. They planted tomatoes together.