<p>in the book of mencius 孟子, chapter 梁惠王上:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>此率獸而<strong>食人</strong>也</p>
</blockquote>
<p>roughly means</p>
<blockquote>
<p>This is leading on beasts to devour men.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&amp;id=12876#s10026702" rel="noreferrer">https://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&amp;id=12876#s10026702</a></p>
<p>in the same book, chapter 滕文公上:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>治於人者<strong>食人</strong>，治人者食於人</p>
</blockquote>
<p>roughly means</p>
<blockquote>
<p>those who are governed by others support them; those who govern others are supported by them</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&amp;id=13261#s10030257" rel="noreferrer">https://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&amp;id=13261#s10030257</a></p>
<p>have fun :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-16T07:43:50.010Z
Could you find more examples of "食人" used literally to mean "eat people"?
Apollyon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-16T05:37:02.890Z
2020-08-16T05:37:02.890Z
水巷孑蠻
<p>I'd like to know whether &quot;食人&quot; is used in Classical Chinese of the 先秦 period. I am not looking for &quot;食人肉.&quot;</p>

<classical-chinese><verbs>
"食人" in Classical Chinese of the 先秦 period
# "食人" in Classical Chinese of the 先秦 period

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-16)

I'd like to know whether "食人" is used in Classical Chinese of the 先秦 period. I am not looking for "食人肉."

**Tags:** classical-chinese, verbs

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-08-16. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

in the book of mencius 孟子, chapter 梁惠王上:

> 此率獸而**食人**也

roughly means

> This is leading on beasts to devour men.

<https://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&id=12876#s10026702>

in the same book, chapter 滕文公上:

> 治於人者**食人**，治人者食於人

roughly means

> those who are governed by others support them; those who govern others are supported by them

<https://ctext.org/dictionary.pl?if=gb&id=13261#s10030257>

have fun :)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Could you find more examples of "食人" used literally to mean "eat people"?  

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