Dim Sum
/ˌdɪm ˈsʌm/noun
A variety of bite-sized Chinese dishes, traditionally served with tea.
Did you know?The Cantonese phrase is connected to the older Chinese expression 點心, used for snacks or light refreshments, while the modern teahouse tradition developed alongside yum cha, or tea drinking.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
點心
“Light food or a small snack; literally, “touch the heart””
10th–13th Century
Middle Chinese
temx sim
“An ancestral pronunciation of 點心 referring to a snack or refreshment”
19th Century
Cantonese
dim2 sam1
“Small dishes or refreshments served with tea”
Late 19th–Early 20th Century
English
dim sum
“A Cantonese culinary term entering English through Chinese communities and restaurants”
Modern English
English
dim sum
“A meal or assortment of bite-sized Chinese dishes, often served from carts or in steamer baskets”