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点心 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
点心diǎnxinlight refreshmentsHSK 5, v, rank #4821, Hard
点心diǎnxinpastryHSK 5, v, rank #4821, Hard
点心diǎnxindimsum (in Cantonese cooking)HSK 5, v, rank #4821, Hard
点心diǎnxindessertHSK 5, v, rank #4821, Hard
diǎnxin(dian3xin5) T3
  1. 1light refreshments
  2. 2pastry
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March 24, 2026
点心(點心)diǎnxin(dian3xin5)

点心 (diǎn xīn) refers to light refreshments or snacks, often served in small portions, commonly associated with Chinese tea culture. It encompasses a variety of foods, including pastries, dumplings, and desserts, particularly in Cantonese cuisine, where it is synonymous with dim sum, a popular dining experience.

Frequency#4821DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, especially in Cantonese regions, 点心 is an essential part of social gatherings and family meals. The tradition of dim sum is not just about food; it fosters social interaction and connection among family and friends.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'point' (点) of light (心) shining on a small, delicious pastry. Visualize enjoying a sweet treat while sipping tea, reminding you of the lightness and small size of dim sum dishes.

Meanings of 点心

diǎnxin(dian3xin5)
1light refreshments
2pastry
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 点心

点心Simplified
點心Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4821Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 点心

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Podcast: 点心

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AI Study Notes for 点心

Quick Contrast

点心 (diǎnxin) vs 小吃 (xiǎochī) — use 点心 specifically for snacks associated with tea culture, while 小吃 refers to a broader range of street food or snacks.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'point' (点) of light (心) shining on a small, delicious pastry. Visualize enjoying a sweet treat while sipping tea, reminding you of the lightness and small size of dim sum dishes.

Usage Notes

点心 is primarily used in informal settings, especially when discussing food with friends or family. A common mistake is using it to refer to heavy meals; remember that 点心 is always light and snack-like. Common collocations include '吃点心' (to eat dim sum) and '点心店' (dim sum shop).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 点心 connects to other food-related vocabulary you'll encounter, such as 菜 (cài, dish) and 饭 (fàn, rice/meal). Focus on the context of dining and food culture in your studies, as this will enhance your conversational skills.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, especially in Cantonese regions, 点心 is an essential part of social gatherings and family meals. The tradition of dim sum is not just about food; it fosters social interaction and connection among family and friends.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 点心 to describe full meals, but it specifically denotes light snacks. For example, saying '我吃了很多点心' (I ate a lot of dim sum) may mislead others to think you had a full meal, while it should imply a small quantity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 点心

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Component Characters

点diǎnpoint
HSK 19 strokes灬
View full entry
心xīnheart
HSK 44 strokes心
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Write 点心

点
心

Practice writing 点心 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 点心

点心 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我今晚有____神不定，这场争斗让我不安。

I'm a bit unsettled tonight. This war thing's upsetting me.

Example Sentences for 点心 (15)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我今晚有点心神不定，这场争斗让我不安。

wǒ jīn wǎn yǒu diǎn xīn shén bù dìng， ， zhè cháng zhēng dǒu ràng wǒ bù。

I'm a bit unsettled tonight. This war thing's upsetting me.
2
如果你有食品加工机，做这种点心轻而易举。

rú guǒ nǐ yǒu shí pǐn jiā gōng jī， ， zuò zhè zhǒng diǎn xīn qīng ér yì。

Making the pastry is a breeze if you have a food processor.
3
我们多少有点心血来潮，决定航海去摩洛哥。

wǒ mén duō shǎo yǒu diǎn xīn xiě lái cháo， ， jué dìng háng hǎi qù mó luò。

We decided, more or less on a whim, to sail to Morocco.
4
“我真的很想吃点儿点心，”基顿咂着嘴说。

“ “ wǒ zhēn de hěn xiǎng chī diǎn ér diǎn，” xīn ，” jī dùn zā zháo。

"I really want some dessert," Keaton says, smacking his lips.
5
莉薇津津有味地大口吃着点心。

lì wēi jīn jīn yǒu wèi dì dà kǒu chī zháo diǎn xīn。

Livy ate the pasties greedily and with huge enjoyment.
6
我能给你尝点泡芙点心吗？

wǒ néng gěi nǐ cháng diǎn pào fú diǎn xīn ma？

Can I tempt you with a little puff pastry?
7
猕猴桃正是健康的小点心。

mí hóu táo zhèng shì jiàn kāng de xiǎo diǎn xīn。

Kiwi fruit are just the thing for a healthy snack.
8
请把这个给你的老板，算是我的一点心意。

qǐng bǎ zhè gè gěi nǐ de lǎo bǎn， ， suàn shì wǒ de yī diǎn xīn。

Please give this to your boss with my compliments.
9
我只要吃少量的甜点心.

wǒ zhī yào chī shǎo liáng de tián diǎn xīn.

I'll have just a trifle of the dessert.
10
不要吃太多浓酱汁、油炸食品和甜腻的油酥点心，因为这些食品的脂肪含量很高。

bù yào chī tài duō nóng jiàng zhī、 、 yóu zhà shí pǐn hé tián nì de yóu sū diǎn， xīn ， yīn wéi zhè xiē shí pǐn de zhī fáng hán liáng。

Don't indulge in rich sauces, fried food and thick pastry as these are high in fat.
11
下午茶时，我们准备了各种各样的点心供客人品尝。

Xiàwǔ chá shí, wǒmen zhǔnbèi le gè zhǒng gè yàng de diǎnxin gōng kèrén pǐncháng.

During afternoon tea, we prepared a variety of light refreshments for the guests to enjoy.
12
在会议中途，我们安排了休息时间，提供咖啡和点心以放松大家的心情。

Zài huìyì zhōngtú, wǒmen ānpái le xiūxí shíjiān, tígōng kāfēi hé diǎnxin yǐ fàngsōng dàjiā de xīnqíng.

During the meeting break, we arranged a rest period with coffee and light refreshments to help everyone relax.
13
每次去茶馆，我都喜欢点一些传统的点心来搭配茶。

Měi cì qù cháguǎn, wǒ dōu xǐhuān diǎn yīxiē chuántǒng de diǎnxin lái dāpèi chá.

Every time I go to the teahouse, I like to order some traditional light refreshments to pair with the tea.
14
在中国，许多家庭在周末会自己做点心，与亲友共享。

Zài Zhōngguó, xǔduō jiātíng zài zhōumò huì zìjǐ zuò diǎnxin, yǔ qīnyǒu gòngxiǎng.

In China, many families make their own light refreshments on weekends to share with friends and family.
15
婚宴结束后，宾客们享用了精致的点心和香槟，气氛非常欢快。

Hūn yàn jiéshù hòu, bīnkèmen xiǎngyòngle jīngzhì de diǎnxin hé xiāngbīn, qìfēn fēicháng huānkuài.

After the wedding banquet, guests enjoyed exquisite light refreshments and champagne, creating a very joyful atmosphere.

Cultural Notes for 点心

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, especially in Cantonese regions, 点心 is an essential part of social gatherings and family meals. The tradition of dim sum is not just about food; it fosters social interaction and connection among family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions about 点心

点心 includes a variety of small dishes such as dumplings, buns, pastries, and sweet desserts.