饼干 (bǐng gān) means 'cracker' or 'biscuit' — a dry, baked snack commonly eaten with tea, coffee, or as a quick snack. The character 饼 (bǐng) originally refers to flat, round food items like pancakes or cakes, while 干 (gān) means 'dry' — together they literally suggest 'dry, flat food,' reflecting the crisp, low-moisture texture typical of most biscuits and crackers in Chinese culinary usage.

This word is widely used across mainland China, Taiwan, and other Mandarin-speaking regions. It covers a broad category: from plain salted crackers to sweet, chocolate-coated cookies. Unlike English, where 'biscuit' and 'cookie' may imply different textures or sweetness levels, 饼干 is a neutral, umbrella term — context or modifiers (e.g., 甜饼干 'sweet biscuit', 苏打饼干 'soda cracker') specify type. It’s common in supermarkets, school lunches, and gift boxes during festivals.