Robin
what is the verb to describe that you use chopsticks to get food There is a plate of meat and you want to get one piece of them with chopsticks. can you use a specific word to replace GET? A piece of meat is picked up by chopsticks? Thank you.
Oct 2, 2013 2:10 PM
Answers · 15
2
Robin, I can't disagree with the answers that have already been given. But, since English is a creative language, and almost any noun can be used as a verb, you could creatively say something like this: She chopsticked a piece of meat into her mouth. Chopstick a piece of meat from the plate and dip it into the sauce. Of course you won't find this usage in a dictionary, nevertheless, I found a number of similar usages online. :)
October 2, 2013
2
I don't think English has the right words for this. There is no word that simply describes the act of holding food between the chopsticks. instead, you can describe an act, and that you used the chopsticks to perform this act. I am holding the food with my chopsticks (suspending it in the air, to show it, not to eat it) I picked it up with my chopsticks (the act of grabbing it, and lifting) I ate it with/using chopsticks (describing what you did (eat) and what you ate with (the chopsticks) I put it in my mouth, with the chopsticks You pinch it like this (demonstrates the use of chopsticks) I lifted the food from my bowl to my mouth with the chopsticks. I balanced a mouthful of Rice on top of my chopsticks Get - would imply that you went somewhere, took hold of the thing, and brought it back. This would not fit with chopsticks, as you don't travel to your food and back with chopsticks.
October 2, 2013
2
I guess in Chinese you may have a specific verb for this action? However, in the West, chopsticks aren't very popular so we can stab the meat with a fork, cut it with a knife or scoop it with a spoon, but we have to pick it up with chopsticks :)
October 2, 2013
2
I/you/he/she picked up the meat using chopsticks. OR I/you/he/she picked up the meat with chopsticks.
October 2, 2013
2
Yes, you do use chopsticks to "pick up" food. In your sentence, I would replace "by" with "with." That is because in the passive voice construction, "by" usually designates the actor. Generally, chopsticks do not pick up food by themselves. People use chopsticks to pick up food, so using "with" shows that the chopsticks are the "utensil" with which food is picked up, and a person is the "actor" that completes that action.
October 2, 2013
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