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优点 (yōu diǎn) — advantage, merit, strong point

Definition

优点 highlights a strong point of a person or thing, often paired with 缺点. It's more concrete than the general 'benefit' of 好处 and more everyday than the written 特长 ('special skill').

noun
advantagemeritstrong point
Measure word · 个, 项

Examples

  • 优点，。
    Tā yǒu jǐ gè yōu diǎn, bú pà kùn nan.
    He has several strengths; he's not afraid of difficulties.
  • 优点。
    Měi gè rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de yōu diǎn hé quē diǎn.
    Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.
  • 优点。
    Tā yǒu yí xiàng yōu diǎn shì huì shuō sān zhǒng yǔ yán.
    One of his strengths is that he can speak three languages.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

优yōuexcellent
点diǎnpoint

优 (excellent) describes 点 (point), giving an excellent point or advantage.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 優; 优 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
憂
憂yōu優yōu
Same sound today

The traditional form 優 combines 亻 (人, person) with 憂 for the sound; the simplified 优 is a later abbreviation.

Open 优 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Good & Bad

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