100+ Chinese Cake Vocabulary Used in Culture and Daily Life

Chinese desserts, especially cake varieties, play a unique role in culinary tradition and everyday life. From steamed rice cakes to snowy mooncakes, understanding the vocabulary behind them opens a rich world of food culture and conversation. Whether you're reading a recipe, walking through a bakery in Guangzhou, or ordering a Chinese birthday cake, you're engaging with an evolving language of celebration, texture, and taste.

This guide covers over 100 keywords related to Chinese cakes—from local pastries and festive treats to core ingredients, kitchen tools, and useful spoken expressions. You’ll also discover terms relevant to almond cake Chinese, chinese rice cakes, chiffon cake Chinese, and more. Perfect for learners preparing for daily interaction, culinary study, or cultural immersion.

100+ Chinese Cake Vocabulary Used in Culture and Daily Life
100+ Chinese Cake Vocabulary Used in Culture and Daily Life

I. Chinese Cake Vocabulary and Other Pastries & Sweets in Chinese

Learning Chinese cake vocabulary allows you to discuss desserts meaningfully in Mandarin, whether you're shopping, cooking, or celebrating.

1. Types of Chinese Cakes and Pastries 

Chinese pastry traditions span centuries, with each region contributing unique specialties that reflect local tastes and available ingredients. These treats serve multiple purposes from daily snacks to ceremonial offerings during festivals and celebrations.

No.

Chinese Cakes

Pinyin

Meaning

Types of Biscuits and Cakes

1

饼干

bǐnggān

Biscuit (cookie)

2

甜饼干

tián bǐnggān

Sweet biscuit

3

什锦饼干

shíjǐn bǐnggān

Assorted biscuits

4

脆饼干

cuì bǐnggān

Crispy biscuit

5

薄脆饼干

báocuì bǐnggān

Thin crispy biscuit

6

华夫饼干

huá fū bǐnggān

Waffle biscuit

6

酒香饼干

jiǔ xiāng bǐnggān

Liquor-flavored biscuit

7

奶油夹心饼干

nǎiyóu jiā xīn bǐnggān

Cream-filled biscuit

8

奶油梳打饼干

nǎiyóu shū dǎ bǐnggān

Butter soda cracker

9

巧克力饼干

qiǎokèlì bǐnggān

Chocolate biscuit

10

曲奇饼

qū qí bǐng

Cookie

11

白兰地姜汁饼干

báilándì jiāng zhī bǐnggān

Brandy ginger biscuit

12

蛋糕

dàngāo

Cake

13

夹层蛋糕

jiācéng dàngāo

Layer cake

14

栗子蛋糕

lìzǐ dàngāo

Chestnut cake

15

冰淇淋蛋糕

bīngqílín dàngāo

Ice cream cake

16

果仁蛋糕

guǒ rén dàngāo

Nut cake

17

水果蛋糕

shuǐguǒ dàngāo

Fruit cake

18

树形蛋糕

shù xíng dàngāo

Tree-shaped cake

19

马德拉蛋糕

mǎ dé lā dàngāo

Madeira cake

20

薄荷糕

bòhé gāo

Mint cake

21

山楂糕

shānzhā gāo

Hawthorn jelly cake

22

咖啡糕

kāfēi gāo

Coffee cake

23

烙饼

làobǐng

Pan-baked flatbread

24

炮夫

pào fū

Puff pastry

25

奶油炮夫

nǎiyóu pào fū

Butter puff

26

巧克力酥

qiǎokèlì sū

Chocolate crisp

27

巧克力奶油酥

qiǎokèlì nǎiyóu sū

Chocolate butter crisp

Types of Filled Pastries

29

馅儿并

xiàn er bìng

Stuffed pastry

30

肉饼

ròu bǐng

Meat pie

31

月饼

yuèbǐng

Mooncake

32

热狗

règǒu

Hot dog

33

牛肉饼

niúròu bǐng

Beef burger

34

炸面卷

zhá miàn juǎn

Fried flour roll

35

奶油卷

nǎiyóu juǎn

Butter roll

Types of Bread

36

面包

miànbāo

Bread

37

奶油面包

nǎiyóu miànbāo

Butter bread

38

小圆面包

xiǎo yuán miànbāo

Small round bread

39

白面包

bái miànbāo

White bread

40

黑面包

hēi miànbāo

Brown bread

41

羊角面包

yángjiǎo miànbāo

Croissant

42

红肠面包

hóng cháng miàn bāo

Sausage bread

43

短棍面包

duǎn gùn miànbāo

Short baguette

44

法式小面包

fàshì xiǎo miànbāo

French bread roll

45

自然发酵面包

zìrán fāxiào miànbāo

Naturally leavened bread

46

面包卷

miànbāo juàn

Bread roll

47

奶酪面包卷

nǎilào miànbāo juàn

Cheese roll

48

咖啡面包卷

kāfēi miànbāo juàn

Coffee roll

49

棒状面包卷

bàngzhuàng miànbāo juàn

Bread stick

Other Types of Chinese Cakes and Pastries

50

煎饼

jiānbing

Pancake

51

薄饼

báobǐng

Crêpe

52

姜饼

jiāngbǐng

Gingerbread

53

大包子

dà bāozi

Large steamed bun

54

粽子

zōngzi

Sticky rice dumpling

55

扁米饼

biǎn mǐ bǐng

Flattened rice cake

56

粉卷

fěn juǎn

Rice roll

57

粉皮

fěn pí

Rice sheet (spring roll wrap)

58

绿豆糕

lǜdòugāo

Mung bean cake

59

米粉粽

mǐfěn zōng

Pyramid rice dumpling

60

馒头

mántou

Steamed sweet bun

61

奶粗饼

nǎi cù bǐng

Milk biscuit

62

汤圆

tāngyuán

Glutinous rice balls

63

苏塞饼

sū sāi bǐng

Xu xê cake (Vietnamese sticky dessert)

64

奶油泡夫

nǎiyóu pào fū

Cream puff

Recognizing these Chinese cake names is helpful not just for dining or shopping, but also during festivals like Mid-Autumn or Lunar New Year.

2. Types of Candy 

Chinese confectionery traditions extend far beyond Chinese cakes, encompassing a wide array of candies that serve both as treats and as expressions of hospitality during festivals and visits.

 

No.

Chinese Candy

Pinyin

Meaning

1

巧克力糖

qiǎokèlì táng

Chocolate candy

2

花生糖

huāshēng táng

Peanut candy

3

椰子糖

yēzi táng

Coconut candy

4

巧克力粒糖

qiǎokèlì lì táng

Chocolate drops

5

巧克力奶糖

qiǎokèlì nǎi táng

Milk chocolate candy

6

圆形巧克力糖

yuán xíng qiǎokèlì táng

Round chocolate candy

7

巧克力软糖

qiǎokèlì ruǎn táng

Soft chocolate candy

8

乳脂软糖

rǔzhī ruǎn táng

Creamy soft candy

9

蛋形巧克力

dàn xíng qiǎokèlì

Egg-shaped chocolate

10

金币巧克力

jīnbì qiǎokèlì

Gold coin chocolate

11

条形巧克力

tiáo xíng qiǎokèlì

Chocolate bar

12

奶油夹心巧克力糖

nǎiyóu jiā xīn qiǎokèlì táng

Cream-filled chocolate candy

13

酒心巧克力

jiǔ xīn qiǎokèlì

Liquor-filled chocolate

14

水果硬糖

shuǐguǒ yìng táng

Fruit hard candy

15

柠檬水果糖

níngméng shuǐguǒ táng

Lemon fruit candy

16

棉花糖

miánhuā táng

Marshmallow

17

硬糖

yìng táng

Hard candy

18

可可花生糖

kěkě huāshēng táng

Cocoa peanut candy

19

杏仁蛋白软糖

xìngrén dànbái ruǎn táng

Almond egg-white soft candy

20

奶油软糖

nǎiyóu ruǎn táng

Soft butter candy

21

什锦糖果

shíjǐn tángguǒ

Assorted candies

22

扁形糖果

biǎnxíng tángguǒ

Flat candy

23

白兰地酒味糖

báilándì jiǔ wèi táng

Brandy-flavored candy

24

炒米糖

chǎomǐ táng

Puffed rice candy

25

口香糖

kǒuxiāngtáng

Chewing gum

26

巧克力夹心软糖

qiǎokèlì jiā xīn ruǎn táng

Soft chocolate-filled candy

27

奶油夹心糖

nǎiyóu jiāxīn táng

Butter cream candy

28

夹心软糖

jiāxīn ruǎn táng

Soft stuffed candy

 

These items are important to understanding broader Chinese dessert contexts and holiday snacks.

3. Baking Ingredients | 烘焙原料 (hōngbèi yuánliào)

Understanding ingredient terminology proves essential when following Chinese recipes, shopping in Chinese markets, or discussing baking techniques with Mandarin speakers.

No.

Chinese Ingredients

Pinyin

Meaning

1

yán

Salt

2

吉利丁粉

jílì dīng fěn

Gelatin powder

3

糯米粉

nuòmǐ fěn

Glutinous rice flour

4

玉米淀粉

yùmǐ diànfěn

Corn starch

5

细砂糖

xì shātáng

Fine granulated sugar

6

可可粉

kěkě fěn

Cocoa powder

7

低筋面粉

dī jīn miànfěn

Cake flour

8

泡打粉

pāo dǎfěn

Baking powder

9

红豆馅儿

hóngdòu xiàn er

Red bean filling

10

红糖

hóngtáng

Brown sugar

11

白糖

báitáng

White sugar

12

木薯淀粉

mùshǔ diànfěn

Tapioca starch

13

絮状

xù zhuàng

Clumpy/flaky texture

14

砂糖

shātáng

Granulated sugar

15

炼乳

liànrǔ

Condensed milk

16

牛奶

niúnǎi

Cow’s milk

17

酸奶

suānnǎi

Yogurt

18

黄油

huángyóu

Butter

19

奶油

nǎiyóu

Shortening / Whipping cream

20

蛋黄

dànhuáng

Egg yolk

21

面团

miàntuán

Dough

22

纯牛奶

chún niúnǎi

Whole milk

23

卡仕达酱

kǎ shì dá jiàng

Custard sauce

24

香草精

xiāngcǎo jīng

Vanilla extract

25

粘稠

zhān chóu

Thick (sauce-like) consistency

26

淡奶油

dàn nǎiyóu

Light cream / Whipping cream

4. Baking Process | 制作步骤 (zhìzuò bùzhòu)

Mastering baking terminology helps you follow recipes accurately and communicate effectively about techniques, whether learning from Chinese instructors or sharing your own knowledge with Mandarin speakers about Chinese cakes.

No.

Chinese Baking Process

Pinyin

Meaning

1

加热, 煮沸

jiārè, zhǔfèi

Heat up, bring to a boil

2

搅打(蛋, 奶油)

jiǎo dǎ (dàn, nǎiyóu)

Beat (eggs, butter)

3

添加

tiānjiā

Add

4

烧开

shāo kāi

Boil

5

撕开

sī kāi

Tear open

6

kǎo

Bake, roast

7

烘烤

hōngkǎo

Toast, oven-bake

8

烧烤

shāokǎo

Grill, barbecue

9

zhà

Deep-fry

10

chǎo

Stir-fry, sauté

11

zhǔ

Boil (food)

12

dùn

Stew, simmer

13

zhēng

Steam

14

qiè

Cut, chop, slice

15

结合

jiéhé

Combine

16

烹调

pēngtiáo

Cook

17

压碎

yā suì

Mash, crush

18

给…涂上油

gěi…tú shàng yóu

Grease with oil

19

róu

Knead, rub, roll

20

混合

hùnhé

Mix, blend

21

测量

cèliáng

Measure

22

融化

rónghuà

Melt, dissolve

23

削皮

xiāo pí

Peel

24

dào

Pour

25

放置

fàngzhì

Set aside, place

26

切片

qiēpiàn

Slice

27

搅拌

jiǎobàn

Stir, mix, blend

28

用大火炒

yòng dàhuǒ chǎo

Stir-fry on high heat

29

拉扯

lāchě

Pull apart

30

Spread, coat

31

揉、搓、捏

róu, cuō, niē

Knead, rub, pinch

32

Scoop, dig

33

zhà

Squeeze, press (juice)

34

搅拌

jiǎobàn

Stir, mix

5. Baking Tools | 烘焙工具 (hōngbèi gōngjù)

Professional or home baking requires specific equipment that Chinese recipes reference by standard terms, helping you identify necessary items and understand instructions more clearly.

No.

Chinese Baking Tools

Pinyin

Meaning

1

厨房用具

chúfáng yòngjù

Kitchen utensils

2

切片器

qiēpiàn qì

Slicer, slicing tool

3

碟子

diézi

Plate

4

生炉手套

shēng lú shǒutào

Oven mitts, heat-resistant gloves

5

盘子

pánzi

Tray, platter

6

面包盆

miànbāo pén

Bread tray

7

椭圆盘

tuǒyuán pán

Oval tray

8

擀面板

gǎn miànbǎn

Pastry board, rolling board

9

高脚果盘

gāo jiǎo guǒpán

Tall fruit tray / pedestal dish

10

饼模

bǐng mó

Baking mold

11

炉子

lúzǐ

Stove, cooker

12

烤面包机

kǎo miànbāo jī

Toaster

13

打蛋器

dǎ dàn qì

Egg beater

14

搅拌器

jiǎobàn qì

Mixer, blender

15

蒸锅

zhēngguō

Steamer pot

16

咖啡匙

kāfēi chí

Coffee spoon

17

茶勺

chá sháo

Tea scoop

18

平底锅

píngdǐ guō

Shallow pan / skillet

19

生平底锅

shēng píngdǐ guō

Deep flat-bottomed pan

20

guō

Pot / pan

21

电炉

diànlú

Electric stove

22

煤气灶

méiqì zào

Gas stove

23

不粘底平底煎锅

bù nián dǐ píngdǐ jiān guō

Non-stick frying pan

These terms are useful whether you’re watching Chinese cakes baking tutorials, reading product catalogs, or sharing recipes in Mandarin.

II. Common Sentences for Talking About Pastries in Chinese

Besides Chinese cakes, practical conversation skills allow you to discuss pastries naturally in Chinese contexts, whether ordering at bakeries, sharing recipes, or discussing preferences with friends and colleagues.

No.

Chinese Sentence

Pinyin

Meaning

1

这个蛋糕是用什么做的?

Zhège dàngāo shì yòng shénme zuò de?

What is this cake made from?

2

我最喜欢巧克力蛋糕。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuan qiǎokèlì dàngāo.

I love chocolate cake the most.

3

这家店的芝士蛋糕特别好吃。

Zhè jiā diàn de zhīshì dàngāo tèbié hǎo chī.

The cheesecake from this shop is especially delicious.

4

这些饼干是用黄油做的。

Zhèxiē bǐnggān shì yòng huángyóu zuò de.

These cookies are made with butter.

5

你做的蛋糕真是太好吃了!

Nǐ zuò de dàngāo zhēn shì tài hǎo chī le!

The cake you made is absolutely delicious!

6

这种甜点在节日里很受欢迎。

Zhè zhǒng tiándiǎn zài jiérì lǐ hěn shòu huānyíng.

This kind of dessert is very popular during holidays.

7

这个甜点太甜了,我不太喜欢。

Zhège tiándiǎn tài tián le, wǒ bù tài xǐhuan.

This dessert is too sweet; I don't really like it.

8

首先,我们需要准备所有的材料。

Shǒuxiān, wǒmen xūyào zhǔnbèi suǒyǒu de cáiliào.

First, we need to prepare all the ingredients.

9

接下来,我们将搅拌黄油和糖。

Jiē xiàlái, wǒmen jiāng jiǎobàn huángyóu hé táng.

Next, we will mix the butter and sugar.

10

然后,加入鸡蛋和牛奶。

Ránhòu, jiārù jīdàn hé niúnǎi.

Then, add the eggs and milk.

11

接着,筛入面粉和泡打粉。

Jiēzhe, shāi rù miànfěn hé pàodǎfěn.

After that, sift in the flour and baking powder.

12

把模具放入预热好的烤箱中,烘烤大约需要30分钟。

Bǎ mújù fàng rù yùrè hǎo de kǎoxiāng zhōng, hōng kǎo dàyuē xūyào 30 fēnzhōng.

Place the mold into the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes.

13

烘烤大约需要三十分钟。

Hōngkǎo dàyuē xūyào sānshí fēnzhōng.

Baking takes about 30 minutes.

14

我喜欢边吃蛋糕边喝茶。

Wǒ xǐhuan biān chī dàngāo biān hē chá.

I enjoy eating cake while drinking tea.

15

奶油要打至蓬松的状态。

Nǎiyóu yào dǎ zhì péngsōng de zhuàngtài.

The cream should be whipped until fluffy.

16

请把巧克力切成小块。

Qǐng bǎ qiǎokèlì qiē chéng xiǎo kuài.

Please cut the chocolate into small pieces.

17

慢慢倒入牛奶,同时搅拌。

Màn man dàorù niúnǎi, tóngshí jiǎobàn.

Slowly pour in the milk while stirring.

18

吃太多甜点对身体不好。

Chī tài duō tiándiǎn duì shēntǐ bù hǎo.

Eating too many sweets isn't good for your health.

19

每一道工序都很重要。

Měi yīdào gōngxù dōu hěn zhòngyào.

Every step of the process is important.

20

我们来尝尝这个新做的小蛋糕吧!

Wǒmen lái chángchang zhège xīn zuò de xiǎo dàngāo ba!

Let’s try this freshly made cupcake!

Using these naturally in conversation shows your practical fluency and cultural awareness.

III. Final Thoughts

Learning Chinese cake vocabulary goes beyond mastering dessert menus—it opens a door into holiday traditions, tea pairings, handmade gifts, and digital cooking culture. Whether you're interested in chinese rice cakes, almond cake chinese, or regional specialties like cantonese sponge cake, you'll gain insights that bridge language and lifestyle.

Engaging with this vocabulary through shopping, baking, or celebration experiences makes the terms meaningful and memorable. Choose a few items to focus on first—perhaps your favorite Chinese cake, dessert or a recipe you've always wanted to try. As you build knowledge, you’ll find this tasty topic becomes one of the most rewarding paths to fluency.

Let me know if you'd like flashcard decks, printable ingredient sheets, or supporting audio for pronunciation!

 

Chloe
Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.

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