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到点 (dào diǎn) — the time has come (to do something); time is up

Definition

到点 (dào diǎn) means the scheduled or expected moment has arrived — "it's time" or "time's up." Often used as a soft prompt, e.g. 到点了，该走了 ("Time's up, let's go").

verb
the time has come (to do something)time is up

Examples

  • 。
    Dào le diǎn wǒ men jiù yào chū fā.
    Once the time comes, we have to set off.
  • 到点，。
    dào diǎn Le, gāi qù kāi huì le.
    It's time — we should go to the meeting.
  • 到点，，。
    dào diǎn Le, bié wán le, kuài qù xiě zuò yè.
    Time's up. Stop playing and go do your homework.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

到dàoreach
点diǎntime point

到 means reach and 点 means the time point, so 到点 says the time has come or is up.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →

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
Time of Day

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