Meaning
蹭饭 is a colloquial term that means to get a free meal from someone, typically a friend or acquaintance, without formally being invited or paying. The verb 蹭 originally means to rub against or to take advantage of something, and when combined with 饭 (meal), it creates this informal expression for getting food at someone else's expense.
Usage
This is an informal, casual expression commonly used among friends and in everyday conversation. It's generally said in a lighthearted, self-deprecating way when someone shows up at mealtime hoping to be fed, or when teasing someone who frequently drops by around dinner time. While the literal meaning involves freeloading, it's usually used playfully rather than critically among close friends.
Examples
- 01你又来我家蹭饭了？?You're here to mooch a meal at my place again?
- 02我今天没做饭，去朋友那儿蹭了一顿。, .I didn't cook today, so I went to my friend's place and mooched a meal.
Characters
Measure words
- 顿蹭了一顿饭
Common collocations
- 去蹭饭to go mooch a meal
- 蹭了一顿饭mooched a meal
- 又来蹭饭came to mooch food again
Antonyms
Origin
The character 蹭 (cèng) originally referred to rubbing or scraping against something, which evolved metaphorically to mean taking advantage of or freeloading off someone. Combined with 饭 (meal), this colloquial expression became popular in modern Mandarin to describe the casual act of getting free food.