小数点 (xiǎo shù diǎn) — decimal point

Definition

noun
decimal point

Examples

  • 小数点。
    Jì suàn shí bié wàng le jiā xiǎo shù diǎn.
    Don't forget to add the decimal point when calculating.
  • 小数点？
    Sān diǎn yī sì de xiǎo shù diǎn zài nǎ lǐ?
    Where is the decimal point in 3.14?
  • 小数点。
    Zhè ge jià gé jīng què dào xiǎo shù diǎn hòu liǎng wèi.
    This price is accurate to two decimal places.

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.

小数decimal
小xiǎosmall数shùnumber
偏正Modifier + head
点diǎnpoint

“小数” means decimal, and “点” is the point that shows where the decimal begins.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(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 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →

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 →

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