What is the difference between 「食う」 and 「食べる」?


I've often seen 「食べる」 used, when should we use 「食う」 ? Are these two
interchangeable ? Can you provide examples ?




They both mean "eat", as you no doubt already know.

`食{た}べる`however, is "eat" in the sense of "sit down and have a meal". Not
strictly that, but that's more the image. It also means eat as in
"sustenance", the food you eat regularly to stay alive.

`食{く}う` is eat in the sense of "consume", as in one animal eating another.
`食う` can be used for people, of course, and it conveys a more raw sense of
"I'm going to get this food in me!"

So, to get more specific to your question...

They are not entirely interchangeable because of the different implications
described above.

An example of `食べる` is

> 食{た}べるために働{はたら}いている。
>
> _(I) work so that I can eat_

Note in this example, there's the dual implication of working so that one can
afford meals, and also to maintain oneself by having continued access to
sustenance.

An example of `食う` is:

> 食{く}うか食{く}われるかの世{よ}の中{なか}
>
> _In this world, it's eat or be eaten. "It's a dog eat dog world"_




They both mean "eat", as you no doubt already know.

`食{た}べる`however, is "eat" in the sense of "sit down and have a meal". Not
strictly that, but that's more the image. It also means eat as in
"sustenance", the food you eat regularly to stay alive.

`食{く}う` is eat in the sense of "consume", as in one animal eating another.
`食う` can be used for people, of course, and it conveys a more raw sense of
"I'm going to get this food in me!"

So, to get more specific to your question...

They are not entirely interchangeable because of the different implications
described above.

An example of `食べる` is

> 食{た}べるために働{はたら}いている。
>
> _(I) work so that I can eat_

Note in this example, there's the dual implication of working so that one can
afford meals, and also to maintain oneself by having continued access to
sustenance.

An example of `食う` is:

> 食{く}うか食{く}われるかの世{よ}の中{なか}
>
> _In this world, it's eat or be eaten. "It's a dog eat dog world"_

