‘喂食’ is a verb meaning 'to feed'—typically used for giving food to animals or, less commonly, to people who need assistance (e.g., infants, the elderly, or patients). The first character 喂 (wèi) means 'to feed' or 'to give food to', and the second character 食 (shí) means 'food' or 'to eat'. Together, they form a compound verb emphasizing the act of providing nourishment. Unlike the more general verb 吃 (chī, 'to eat'), 喂食 focuses on the giver’s action, not the receiver’s consumption.

This word is common in contexts involving pet care, animal husbandry, wildlife conservation, and caregiving. It carries a neutral-to-formal register and is frequently used in written instructions, veterinary advice, and educational materials. While it can be used for humans, it often implies dependency or vulnerability—so using it for healthy adults may sound patronizing or inappropriate. It is usually transitive and takes a direct object (e.g., 喂食小狗, 'feed the puppy').