點心 / 点心
dim² sam¹
The Cantonese phrase for dim sum is 點心 / 点心 (dim² sam¹).
點心 / 点心 refers to a wide variety of small, bite-sized Cantonese dishes served in steamer baskets or small plates.
Meaning: dim sum (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term literally means 'touch the heart'.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is dim² sam¹.
Did you know?
- The 'heart' in the phrase refers to the idea of a small snack that gently touches the stomach or heart to stave off hunger.
- While 點心 refers to the food, the traditional morning tea gathering where it is eaten is called 飲茶, which literally means 'drinking tea'.
- In Cantonese culture, if you are invited to 'yum cha' to eat 點心, you are being invited to a social gathering, not just a quick meal.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dim sum” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
