dim sum

American  

[dim-suhm] / ˈdɪmˈsʌm /

Or dimsum

noun

Chinese Cooking.

1. small dumplings, usually steamed or fried and filled with meat, seafood, vegetables, condiments, etc.

2. a traditional light meal or dish consisting of these dumplings or other small items of savory or sweet food.

   an assortment of dim sum, which included shrimp dumplings, spring rolls, and steamed pork ribs.

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dim sum British  

/ ˈdɪm ˈsʌm /

noun

1. a Chinese appetizer of steamed dumplings containing various fillings

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Etymology

Origin of dim sum

First recorded in 1965–70; from Chinese dialect (Guangdong) dím sàm, equivalent to Chinese diǎnxīn ( diǎn “dot, speck” + xīn “heart”)

Example Sentences

Here are five of the best dim sum restaurants in L.A. and Orange County.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

“The dim sum bond market is growing like crazy,” said Alicia Garcia Herrero, an economist at the French bank Natixis and a professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026

They would also often meet for dinner, sometimes lavish meals, gossiping and bantering over dim sum, pizza or claypot rice.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

When they served their first steamer of dim sum in 1933, a refined ambiance drew the elite clientele of the era.

From Salon • Jul. 12, 2025

They ate tamales and pani puri, dim sum and fufu and grilled cheese sandwiches.

From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate