Welcome to the eG Forums, a service of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters. The Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts. These advertising-free forums are provided free of charge through donations from Society members. Anyone may read the forums, but to post you must create a free account.
On 2/27/2024 at 6:32 AM, KennethT said:What's the response to this? "I'm doing fine" or "yes/no, I've eaten"? I understand it's not taken literally, but I was curious if the response was not literal as well.
Yes, you're not expected to recite the menu of the last 24 hours any more than asking "how are you?" in the west requires you to detail your symptoms of imminent demise. A simple "吃了 (chī le)" meaning "eaten" suffices (whether you have or not).
3 hours ago, KennethT said:What's the response to this? "I'm doing fine" or "yes/no, I've eaten"? I understand it's not taken literally, but I was curious if the response was not literal as well.
Yes, you're not expected to recite the menu of the last 24 hours any more than asking "how are you?" in the west requires you to detail your symptoms of imminent demise. A simple "吃了 (chī le)" meaning "eaten" suffices (whether you have or not).
