Definition
点心 (diǎn xin) refers to small pastries, dim sum, or light refreshments — often sweet or savory and served with tea or after a meal. It differs from 零食 (líng shí, packaged snacks like chips) and 小吃 (xiǎo chī, a broader term for local street snacks). 点心 specifically evokes Cantonese dim sum dishes or baked/steamed pastries.
noun
light refreshmentssnackspastriesdim sum (Cantonese-style small dishes)dessert
Easily confused
- 电信diàn xìnsound-aliketelecommunications
Examples
- 点心。Míngtiān wǒmen qù hē chá chī diǎn xin ba.Let's go drink tea and have dim sum tomorrow.
- 点心，。Wǒ mǎi le gè zhǒng diǎn xin, yǒu tián de yě yǒu xián de.I bought all kinds of pastries, some sweet and some savory.
- 点心？Fàn hòu nǐ xiǎng chī shénme diǎn xin?What dessert would you like after the meal?
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