Jianbing
/ˈdʒiːɑːnˌbɪŋ/noun
A Chinese savory crepe made by cooking batter on a griddle and adding fillings such as egg, sauces, herbs, and crispy crackers.
Did you know?Jianbing is traditionally associated with northern China, and popular legend connects its spread to soldiers who cooked thin pancakes when conventional cooking equipment was unavailable.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese period
Old Chinese
煎
“To cook or fry in a pan over heat”
Old Chinese period
Old Chinese
餅
“A cooked cake, bread, or flat round food”
Medieval China
Middle Chinese
煎餅
“A pan-cooked cake or flatbread”
17th–19th Centuries
Mandarin
jiānbǐng
“A fried or griddled pancake-like food”
20th Century
English loanword
jianbing
“A Chinese savory breakfast crepe”
Modern English
English
jianbing
“A Chinese street-food crepe, often filled with egg, sauces, herbs, and crispy toppings”
Explore more surprising origins