蛋糕 (dàn gāo) literally means 'egg cake'—'蛋' (dàn) means 'egg', and '糕' (gāo) is a general term for soft, steamed or baked rice- or flour-based desserts. Though the name highlights eggs, modern Chinese cakes often contain flour, sugar, milk, and baking powder, similar to Western-style layer cakes, cupcakes, or sponge cakes. It’s a common treat for birthdays, holidays, and celebrations, and appears in bakeries, supermarkets, and home kitchens across China.

The word is used broadly and neutrally—referring to both traditional Chinese sweet pastries (like some regional glutinous rice cakes) and imported Western-style cakes. Unlike '糕点' (gāo diǎn), which is a broader category of pastries and confections, 蛋糕 specifically evokes light, airy, leavened desserts, often frosted or decorated. It’s rarely used metaphorically and almost always refers to edible items.