蛋糕

• Pinyin: dàn gāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 蛋 = 虫 (insect, original meaning related to eggs) + 疋; 糕 = 米 (rice) + 羔 (lamb, phonetic)

Meaning

Cake. A sweet baked dessert, typically made with flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

Includes all types of Western-style cakes such as 生日蛋糕 (birthday cake), 奶油蛋糕 (cream cake), and 芝士蛋糕 (cheesecake). Also used metaphorically in expressions like 分蛋糕 (divide the pie/share benefits).

Examples

1. 妈妈亲手做了一个巧克力蛋糕庆祝我的生日。 Mom made a chocolate cake by hand to celebrate my birthday.
2. 这家店的草莓蛋糕特别好吃，每次来都要点一块。 This shop's strawberry cake is especially delicious — I order a piece every time I come.
3. 他们正在讨论如何分这块市场的蛋糕。 They are discussing how to divide this market pie.

Usage Guide

Context: food, celebrations, everyday

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 我想吃蛋糕。(I want to eat cake.)
• 生日蛋糕上插了几根蜡烛？(How many candles are on the birthday cake?)

Don't Say

• '蛋糕'特指西式烘焙甜点——中式糕点如年糕、发糕不叫蛋糕 (蛋糕 specifically refers to Western baked cakes — Chinese pastries like 年糕 or 发糕 are not called 蛋糕)

Origin & History

Compound of 蛋 (egg) + 糕 (cake/pastry), describing the main ingredient and food type.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal