点心(てんしん)

てんしん
noun
dim sum, light snack
1. dim sum, light snack, Chinese-style small dish
Small dishes or snacks originating from Chinese cuisine, including dumplings, spring rolls, steamed buns, and similar items. In Japan, the term broadly covers Chinese-style light foods.
中華街(ちゅうかがい)で点心(てんしん)を食(た)べた。
I had dim sum in Chinatown.
この店(みせ)は点心(てんしん)の種類(しゅるい)が豊富(ほうふ)で人気(にんき)がある。
This restaurant is popular for its wide variety of dim sum.
点心(てんしん)には蒸(む)し餃子(ぎょうざ)や春巻(はるま)き、焼売(しゅうまい)など様々(さまざま)な種類(しゅるい)がある。
Dim sum includes various types such as steamed dumplings, spring rolls, and shumai.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Chinese 點心(てんしん) (diǎnxīn), literally "to touch the heart," referring to light snacks that lightly satisfy hunger.

SCOPE:
In Japanese usage, 点心(てんしん) usually refers to Chinese-style small dishes served at Chinese restaurants. It includes items like 餃子(ぎょうざ) (dumplings), 焼売(しゅうまい) (shumai), 春巻(はるま)き (spring rolls), 小籠包(しょうろんぽう) (soup dumplings), and 肉(にく)まん (meat buns). In the context of 茶道(さどう) (tea ceremony), 点心(てんしん) can also refer to a light meal served before tea.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 点心(てんしん)を食(た)べる: to eat dim sum
  • 飲茶(やむちゃ): dim sum meal (eating dim sum with Chinese tea)
  • 点心(てんしん)師(し): dim sum chef
general
Added 2026.2.24 20:45
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