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How to Say ‘What did you eat yesterday?’ in Simplified Chinese

昨天吃了什么?

zuó tiān chī le shén me

[zuótiān chī luh shénme]

🇨🇳 In China: Chinese doctors very often ask this for stomach complaints, and the answer guides their advice. Have a quick answer ready, like spicy food, street food, or something cold.

Phrase Breakdown

昨天

zuó tiān

[zuótiān]

yesterday

The day before today.

Example

我昨天很忙。

I was busy yesterday.

吃了什么?

chī le shén me

what did you eat?

吃了 (chī le) means ate, and 什么 (shénme) means what. 了 shows the action is finished.

Example

你早饭吃了什么?

What did you have for breakfast?

Words in this phrase

吃

chī

[chī]

to eat

Basic verb for eating food.

Example

我们去吃火锅吧。

Let's go eat hotpot.

了

le

[luh]

completed action marker

Shows that an action has happened or a new situation has occurred.

Example

我想了很久,还是决定联系你。

I thought about it for a long time and still decided to contact you.

什么

shén me

[shénme]

what

Question word asking about things.

Example

你想吃什么?

What do you want to eat?

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