Today, I was feeling peckish and ended up at this local Chinese joint. You know, the one with the red lanterns and the smell of deliciousness wafting out the door? Anyway, I ordered some dim sum, because why not? As I was munching away, it hit me: “What does ‘dim sum’ actually mean?”
So, like any normal person would do, I pulled out my phone and started digging.
First stop, the all-knowing Wikipedia. Skimmed through the entry, and it threw around words like “Cantonese cuisine” and “hors d’oeuvres.” Okay, fancy stuff. But that wasn’t what I want, still didn’t get to the meaning of the name.
Next, I hit up some dictionary sites. One of them had a simple definition: “a Chinese meal or snack of small dishes.” Yeah, I got that from just looking at the menu, thank you very much. Still not the answer I was looking for, so I kept scrolling.
Then, I stumbled upon a couple of articles that finally shed some light. Apparently, “dim sum” literally translates to “touch the heart” in Cantonese. Whoa, mind blown!
- It’s like saying these little bites of food are meant to touch your soul. How poetic is that?
- And get this, there’s another phrase, “yum cha,” which means “to drink tea.”
So, basically, you put them together, “dim sum” and “yum cha,” and you’ve got a whole experience: small, heartwarming dishes enjoyed with tea. That makes so much sense! I mean, who doesn’t love sipping tea while nibbling on tasty treats?
I even found out that “dim sum” was originally more of a snack than a full meal. In a Chinese restaurant, people gradually added these little snacks to their tea time. Kind of like how the Spanish have tapas, small plates to enjoy with drinks.
So, there you have it. My little adventure into the world of dim sum meaning. Now, every time I order it, I’ll remember that it’s not just food, it’s a little touch of heart. Makes those dumplings taste even better, if you ask me!