also: てんじん
noun
Zen monk's early morning meal; refreshment; cakes
In a Zen Buddhist context, refers to the simple meal taken early in the morning, often consisting of rice gruel and pickles. More broadly, can refer to light refreshments or small cakes served with tea.
禅寺では、朝の点心の後、座禅を組む。
At the Zen temple, they sit in meditation after the morning meal.
茶会で点心
At the tea gathering, nerikiri sweets were served as refreshments.
noun
dim sum; simple Chinese food
Refers to Chinese-style small dishes, especially dim sum, often served in steamer baskets or small plates. In Japanese usage, it can also mean simple Chinese home-style cooking.
横浜の中華街で点心を食べ歩いた。
We went around eating dim sum in Yokohama's Chinatown.
彼は点心の作り方を中国で習った。
He learned how to make simple Chinese dishes in China.
From Chinese 點心 (diǎnxīn), originally meaning 'light refreshment' or 'snack'. The Zen Buddhist usage developed in Japan, while the dim sum sense reflects the original Chinese meaning.