飲 茶(やむちゃ)

やむちゃ

noun

dim sum; yum cha

1. dim sum; yum cha; Chinese tea-accompanied small dishes

The Cantonese tradition of eating small steamed and fried dishes while drinking tea. In Japanese, the word refers both to the custom and to the dishes themselves.

飲茶(やむちゃ)を食(た)べに行(い)く。

To go out for dim sum.

横浜(よこはま)中華街(ちゅうかがい)で飲茶(やむちゃ)を楽(たの)しんだ。

We enjoyed dim sum in Yokohama's Chinatown.

週末(しゅうまつ)に家族(かぞく)で飲茶(やむちゃ)のお店(みせ)に行(い)って、色々(いろいろ)な点心(てんしん)を注文(ちゅうもん)した。

On the weekend, our family went to a dim sum restaurant and ordered various dumplings and appetizers.

A loanword from Cantonese (飲茶(やむちゃ), yám chàh), literally meaning 'drink tea.' Refers to the Chinese custom of eating small dishes (点心(てんしん)) accompanied by tea, or to the dishes and dining experience itself.

Common collocations

飲茶(やむちゃ)を食(た)べる: to eat dim sum
飲茶(やむちゃ)の店(みせ): dim sum restaurant
飲茶(やむちゃ)料理(りょうり): dim sum cuisine
飲茶(やむちゃ)セット: dim sum set (meal)

Related words

点心(てんしん): dim sum dishes; Chinese snacks/appetizers — refers to the individual dishes rather than the dining custom
中華料理(ちゅうかりょうり): Chinese cuisine — the broader category
餃子(ぎょうざ): gyoza, dumplings — one of the most common dim sum items known in Japan

Cultural note

Dim sum is popular in Japan, especially in Chinatown areas like 横浜(よこはま)中華街(ちゅうかがい) and 神戸(こうべ)南京町(なんきんまち). Common items include 小籠包(しょうろんぽう) (soup dumplings), 焼売(しゅうまい) (siu mai), and 春巻(はるま)き (spring rolls).

Related Words

Related: 点心(てんしん) (dim sum dishes)

Related: 中華料理(ちゅうかりょうり) (Chinese cuisine)

Related: 餃子(ぎょうざ) (gyoza, dumplings)

general

Added 2026.3.28 21:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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