零食
língshí
The English word "snack" is translated into Chinese as 零食 (língshí).
零食 refers to an item of food eaten between meals. It is a mass noun used to refer to snacks in a general sense rather than a specific single piece of food.
Meaning: an item of food eaten between meals (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 零食 is composed of 零 (líng), meaning 'zero' or 'fragmentary/small' and 食 (shí), meaning 'food'.
Which one should you use?
While 零食 is the standard term, 零嘴 is a colloquial way to say snack. Additionally, 点心 can be used casually to mean snacks in certain contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 点心 is more commonly used in southern China, especially in Hong Kong.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to express the idea of buying "some snacks" in a casual way, it is common to add the measure word 点 after the verb, such as in the phrase 买点零食.
How do you pronounce it?
língshí
Did you know?
- Chinese culture often distinguishes between 零食 and 夜宵, which are 'midnight snacks'. While both are food between meals, 夜宵 is a distinct cultural ritual of late-night dining.
- The term 点心 is the same word used for 'dim sum' in Cantonese cuisine, meaning the snacks you might eat during a tea service.
- The word 零 (líng) is also used in the word for 'change' (small coins), suggesting a connection between 'fragmentary' items and small, loose amounts.
Examples in context
- 帮我买点零食吧。Buy me a snack.This sentence shows how to ask someone to buy some snacks using 零食.Tatoeba #9838191 by morningstar, translation #5320767 by mailohilohi
- 爆米花是我最喜欢的零食。Popcorn is my favorite snack.This sentence identifies popcorn as a favorite snack using 零食.Tatoeba #5993948 by verdastelo9604, translation #3820754 by CK
- 炸肉丸不是一種健康的零食。A frikandel is not a healthy snack.This sentence discusses whether a certain food is a healthy snack using 零食.Tatoeba #13549624 by LeviHighway, translation #9356995 by MarijnKp
- 我喜欢吃小吃。I like to eat snacks.
- 我最喜欢吃零食！I love eating snacks!
- 这家店有很多好吃的零嘴。This store has a lot of delicious snacks.
- 我们一起去吃点心吧！Let's go eat snacks together!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a convenience store in the afternoon.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你想吃什么零食吗？Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme língshí ma?Do you want to eat some snacks?
- 俊杰 Junjie我想吃一点薯片。Wǒ xiǎng chī yīdiǎn shǔpiàn.I want to eat some potato chips.
- 佳怡 Jiayi这些零食看起来很不错。Zhèxiē língshí kàn qǐlái hěn bùcuò.These snacks look pretty good.
- 俊杰 Junjie那我们就买这些吧。Nà wǒmen jiù mǎi zhèxiē ba.Then let's buy these.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snack” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
