Char Siu Bao
/ˌtʃɑːr ˌsiːuː ˈbaʊ/noun
A Cantonese steamed bun filled with barbecued pork.
Did you know?The name preserves Cantonese culinary imagery: char siu pork was traditionally roasted while suspended on forks or hooks, giving the dish its fiery identity.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
包
“To wrap, enclose, or package; later associated with filled buns.”
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
叉燒
“Fork-roasted or fork-barbecued meat.”
19th–20th Century
Cantonese
cha siu baau
“A steamed bun filled with roast pork.”
20th Century
English
char siu bao
“A Cantonese roast-pork bun, adopted through Chinese restaurants and communities.”
Modern English
English
char siu bao
“A steamed barbecue-pork bun, commonly served as dim sum.”