主食 zhǔshí staple food
How to remember 主食: 主 lord + 食 food = staple food.
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How it is used
- The staple carbohydrate of a meal, rice, noodles, bread, as opposed to 副食 (fùshí), the side dishes.
- Stock line: 米饭是中国人的主食, rice is the Chinese staple food.
- Comes up in dietary and restaurant contexts, e.g. ordering 主食 separately from 菜 (the other dishes).