dàn gāo
cake
我喜欢吃蛋糕。
wǒ xǐhuān chī dàngāo.
I like to eat cake.
这个蛋糕真好吃。
zhège dàngāo zhēn hǎochī.
This cake is delicious.
我生日的时候，妈妈给我做了一个蛋糕。
wǒ shēngrì de shíhòu, māma gěi wǒ zuòle yīgè dàngāo.
On my birthday, my mom made me a cake.
糕点 (gāo diǎn)
pastry
甜点 (tián diǎn)
dessert
面包 (miàn bāo)
bread
饼干 (bǐng gān)
cookie
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The Chinese word 蛋糕 (dàngāo) for "cake" is derived from the Portuguese word "pão de Castella", which means "bread from Castile". The Portuguese introduced this type of sponge cake to Japan during the 16th century, where it became known as "kasutera". The Chinese adopted the term from the Japanese pronunciation, and it eventually evolved into the modern Chinese word 蛋糕. The first character, "dàn" (蛋), means "egg", referring to the main ingredient used in making cakes. The second character, "gāo" (糕), is a general term for various types of Chinese pastries, including cakes.
