饼干

• Pinyin: bǐng gān
• Hanzi breakdown: 饼 = 饣(food) + 并 (phonetic); 干 (dry)

Meaning

Biscuit; cookie; cracker. A small, flat, baked snack that is typically crispy.

Covers all types of biscuits and cookies, both sweet and savory. 苏打饼干 (soda crackers), 曲奇饼干 (cookies), 威化饼干 (wafers). A common snack for all ages.

Examples

1. 她每天都会给孩子带一盒饼干当零食。 She brings her child a box of biscuits as a snack every day.
2. 这种饼干是低糖的，很适合正在减肥的人吃。 This type of biscuit is low in sugar and very suitable for people who are dieting.
3. 超市里的饼干种类繁多，挑得眼花缭乱。 The supermarket has so many varieties of biscuits that it's overwhelming to choose.

Usage Guide

Context: food, snacks, everyday

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你要吃饼干吗？(Do you want some biscuits?)
• 这个饼干好酥脆。(These biscuits are so crispy.)

Don't Say

• 把软的糕点叫'饼干'——饼干特指干脆的饼类食品 (Don't call soft pastries 饼干 — 饼干 specifically refers to dry, crispy baked goods)

Origin & History

Compound of 饼 (flat cake) + 干 (dry), describing dry, baked flatbread-type snacks.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal