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

Cook had pulled up to 812 N. Broadway that day to meet a friend for dim sum.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

The menu skews Asian fusion, with sushi, dim sum, wagyu and — unsurprisingly — Peking duck as the centerpiece, served with pancakes, hoisin and scallions.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

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

We lived on Waverly Place, in a warm, clean, two-bedroom flat that sat above a small Chinese bakery specializing in steamed pastries and dim sum.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan