點心 / 点心
diǎnxīn
In Mandarin, dessert can be expressed in several ways. The default form is 點心 / 点心 (diǎnxīn). Wiktionary also lists 餐後甜點 / 餐后甜点 (cānhòu tiándiǎn) and 甜食 (tiánshí).
Meaning: sweet confection served as the last course of a meal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | 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 |
甜食 is used to describe the category of 'sweet foods' in general, such as when saying someone has a sweet tooth. 甜點 / 甜点 is used when specifically referring to sweet treats or desserts. 西點 / 西点 specifically refers to Western-style desserts or pastries, such as cakes or tarts.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 餐後甜點 / 餐后甜点 literally breaks down into 'meal' (cān), 'after' (hòu) and 'sweet dessert' (tiándiǎn).
Which one should you use?
While 點心 / 点心 can mean dessert, it is most commonly used to refer to dim sum or small snacks/appetizers. Use 甜點 / 甜点 when specifically referring to sweet treats or desserts to avoid confusion with savory snacks.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
西點 / 西点 refers to Western-style desserts or pastries. 甜点儿 is an informal variation of 甜点.
How do you pronounce it?
diǎnxīn
Did you know?
- The term 點心 / 点心 literally translates to 'touch the heart'.
- While English speakers view 'dessert' as a separate course, traditional Chinese meals often integrate 甜食 (sweet foods) into the main meal or serve fresh fruit as the final course instead of a confection.
- In traditional Chinese medicine and culinary philosophy, 'sweetness' in 甜食 is often balanced with other flavors to ensure the meal does not create an imbalance in the body.
Examples in context
- 我要吃点甜点儿。I want to have some dessert.
- 我超级喜欢吃甜甜圈！I absolutely love eating doughnuts!
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.
