薄饼 (báo bǐng) literally means 'thin cake' — 薄 (báo) means 'thin' or 'light', and 饼 (bǐng) refers to a flat, round food item like a pancake, cracker, or flatbread. Together, they describe a soft, pliable, unleavened flatbread commonly used in northern Chinese cuisine as a wrapper for savory fillings such as sliced meat, scallions, and sauce.

This word is often associated with street food and home cooking, especially in dishes like jianbing (a crispy crepe) or as a base for rolling up Peking duck. While similar to Western pancakes, báo bǐng is typically thinner, less fluffy, and not sweetened. It’s usually made from wheat flour and water, cooked on a griddle, and served warm. The term is neutral in register and widely understood across Mandarin-speaking regions.