点 (diǎn) - Point & dot

点Tone 3

diǎn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

点 · diǎn

Point;

dot;

spot;

to light;

to check;

to select;

a little bit;

o'clock;

aspect;

feature.

Pointdotspot

Usage highlights

PointO'clockAdvantageDisadvantageFocusStarting point

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 面— surface, area
  • 线— line

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please click this point (点).
  • It's nine o'clock (九点).
  • Add a little bit of salt (点盐).
  • Light the candle (点蜡烛).
  • Check the attendance (点名).

Collocations

  • Point(点)
  • O'clock(点钟)
  • Advantage(优点)
  • Disadvantage(缺点)
  • Focus(焦点)
  • Starting point(起点)

Idioms

  • A little bit of something is better than nothing(聊胜于无点)
  • To hit the nail on the head(点到为止)
  • To have both strong and weak points(有优点有缺点)
  • The finishing touch(画龙点睛)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese calligraphy, dots are one of the basic stroke types and carry significant aesthetic importance.
  • The character 点 is often used in time expressions to denote hours (e.g., 三点 for 3 o'clock).
  • In traditional Chinese culture, 'adding the dot to the dragon's eye' (画龙点睛) symbolizes the crucial final touch that brings something to life.

FAQ