Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 點心 / 点心 | diǎnxīn | |
| 餐後甜點 / 餐后甜点 | cānhòu tiándiǎn | |
| 甜食 | tiánshí | |
| 甜點 / 甜点 | tiándiǎn | |
| 西點 / 西点 | xīdiǎn | Western |
The term you choose for dessert depends on whether you are referring to a specific course in a meal, sweet foods in general or a specific style of pastry.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 點心 / 点心 (diǎnxīn) literally means 'touch the heart' and is often used to refer to dim sum or light snacks rather than a formal dessert course.
Which one should you use?
甜點 / 甜点 (tiándiǎn) specifically refers to sweet desserts, whereas 點心 / 点心 (diǎnxīn) can mean snacks. If you want to be most precise about a dessert served as the final course of a meal, use 餐後甜點 / 餐后甜点 (cānhòu tiándiǎn). For sweet-tasting foods in general (like candy or sweets), use 甜食 (tiánshí). Finally, 西點 / 西点 (xīdiǎn) is used specifically to refer to Western-style pastries or desserts like cakes and croissants.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 糖水 is commonly used to refer to desserts. In some regions, including Taiwan, 甜品 is a popular term to refer to desserts.
How do you pronounce it?
diǎnxīn
Did you know?
- The term 點心 first appeared in writing during the Tang dynasty. It was used in a context where a woman told her brother to eat snacks while she finished her makeup.
- In Cantonese, the word for dessert is 糖水, which literally translates to 'sugar water'. This reflects a cultural preference for sweet soups and puddings over cakes.
- Unlike English desserts which are almost exclusively sweet, the Chinese term 點心 encompasses a vast range of savory items like dumplings and buns.
Examples in context
- 你喜欢吃什么糖水？What type of dessert do you like?
- 请问你最喜欢的甜品是什么？May I ask what your favorite dessert is?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dessert” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 點心, CC BY-SA 4.0.
