dim2 sam1點心点心

Jyutpingdim2 sam1

Yaledím sām

名詞Common

Definition

Dim sum; small bite-sized dishes traditionally served in steamer baskets at teahouses.

ngo5我zung1鍾ji3意sik6食dim2點sam1心。

ngo5我zung1钟ji3意sik6食dim2点sam1心。

I like eating dim sum.

colloquialdim sumfood

How it's used

Refers specifically to the small dishes served in a teahouse rather than just any snack. While traditionally associated with bamboo steamers, the term now encompasses a vast array of fried, baked, and steamed items. It is deeply tied to the social ritual of 飲茶, where people gather to chat over tea and these small plates.

Measure word

lung2籠lúng

Examples

gam1今jat6日heoi3去jam2飲caa4茶，nei5你soeng2想giu3叫me1咩dim2點sam1心aa4呀？

Going for dim sum today, what would you like to order?

le1呢gaan1間caa4茶lau4樓di1啲dim2點sam1心hou2好sik6食gwo3過ceot1出min6面hou2好do1多。

The dim sum at this teahouse is much better than elsewhere.

Common phrases

dim2點sam1心ce1車

dim sum cart

dim2點sam1心zi2紙

dim sum order sheet

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the Mandarin word 點心, which can refer to any snack or dessert in a general sense. In Cantonese, it is almost exclusively reserved for the specific cuisine served in a teahouse.