过瘾

guò yǐn

to satisfy a craving

HSK 6

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"过瘾" (guò yǐn) is commonly used to express a strong sense of satisfaction or fulfillment, especially after indulging in something enjoyable like food, entertainment, or activities. It often implies that the experience has fully met or exceeded one’s craving or desire.

Common Contexts

You will hear "过瘾" frequently when people talk about movies, games, food, or hobbies that give them great pleasure. It can describe both physical and emotional satisfaction.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 过瘾: to eat to one’s heart’s content, emphasizing enjoyment of food.
  • 过瘾: to have a great time playing or engaging in an activity.
  • 抽烟过瘾: to smoke with great satisfaction (often with a negative health implication).

Nuances

Using "过瘾" conveys that the experience was not just good but deeply gratifying. It is informal and often used in spoken language. Avoid using it in very formal writing.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "过瘾" with "满足" (mǎnzú), which means "to be satisfied" but is more neutral and less intense. "过瘾" carries a stronger emotional or sensory impact.

Example Sentences

这部电影真过瘾,剧情紧凑又刺激。

Zhè bù diànyǐng zhēn guòyǐn, jùqíng jǐncòu yòu cìjī.

This movie is really satisfying; the plot is tight and exciting.

吃了这么多美食,真是过瘾啊!

Chī le zhème duō měishí, zhēn shì guòyǐn a!

Having eaten so much delicious food, it’s really satisfying!

他抽烟抽得很过瘾,但对身体不好。

Tā chōuyān chōu de hěn guòyǐn, dàn duì shēntǐ bù hǎo.

He smokes very satisfyingly, but it’s bad for his health.