第一次见网友先问吃了吗

Why do Chinese people greet each other with “吃了吗”?

Two online friends meet in person for the first time in this clip, and the opening line isn’t “nice to meet you” — it’s 吃了吗？ “Have you eaten?” For generations this has been a standard Chinese greeting, born in leaner times when asking about someone’s last meal was genuine concern. Nobody expects a menu rundown: 吃了 (“I’ve eaten”) is the “fine, thanks” that keeps the ritual going.

The reply in the clip is pure deadpan: 这个点应该吃过了，没吃会饿死 — “at this hour of course we’ve eaten; skip it and you’d starve.” Today 吃了吗 skews older and northern as a literal greeting, but everyone recognizes it — and between friends it doubles as a real opener for “…because if not, let’s go eat.”