dim sum

Where does the word "dim sum" come from? It comes from Cantonese dim sam, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Dim sum’s story begins in Cantonese: dim sam meant “touch the heart; small dishes.” Literally "touch the heart", small savory dishes served with tea. It reached English by 1900s as dim sum. Cantonese 'touch the heart'; first recorded in 1894 in the Washington Post, describing the city's Chinese restaurants; served with 'yum cha', drinking tea. Today, dim sum means a Chinese meal of small, varied dishes, often served with tea.

1. Stage 1 · Cantonese · medieval dim sam "touch the heart; small dishes", literally "touch the heart", small savory dishes served with tea.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s dim sum "small, varied dishes served with tea", Cantonese 'touch the heart'; first recorded in 1894 in the Washington Post, describing the city's Chinese restaurants; served with 'yum cha', drinking tea.