'Shi se xing ye' (literally 'eating and sexual desire are human nature') is a phrase from the Book of Rites, chapter Liyun, and a saying of the ancient Chinese thinker Confucius. It means: 'Eating and the pursuit of beauty (or sexual desire) are part of human nature.' Here, 'shi' refers to food and drink, 'se' refers to emotional or physiological needs between men and women, and 'xing' refers to innate disposition or instinct.

This phrase emphasizes that eating and reproducing offspring are the most basic human needs and an inborn natural disposition. It also reflects the Confucian understanding of human nature, which holds that these basic needs are understandable but should be regulated through ethical and moral norms in order to achieve personal and social harmony.

Later, this phrase has often been quoted to illustrate the importance humans place on basic needs and has been used to discuss various aspects of human nature.