Answer to Learn the meaning behind the phrase “吃土 (chītǔ) eating dirt” -Beginner

Correct Answer: C

Answer analysis:

吃 (chī): v. to eat
土 (tǔ): n. dirt/soil
吃土 (chītǔ): literally means “to eat dirt,” it is used to describe someone who is very poor. Why?

Many people have heard of black Friday in the US, but have you heard of an even bigger day for spending in China? Singles’ Day, which falls on November 11th, draws in the biggest amount of spending in one single day. In China, all of the online shops drop giant discounts starting right at midnight, and the youth in China make sure to stay up all night so they can purchase their desired products already waiting in their shopping carts right as 12 am strikes. The sad truth of this day for the young is that they over spend over their budget, resulting in an empty bank account and a month still to go before the next paycheck. So, the Internet slang “吃土 (chītǔ) eat dirt” came about as a way to make light of their lightened wallets.

Examples:

Tā qióng de zhǐnéng chītǔ le.
他    穷   得   只能     吃土 了。
He is so poor all he can eat is dirt.

Wǒ de qián dōu huā wán le，xià gè yuè zhǐnéng chītǔ le.
我   的  钱    都    花  完   了，下 个 月     只能     吃土 了。
I have spent all of my money, next month I will just eat dirt.

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