点 (diǎn) — to tap or touch briefly; to mark with a dot; to check off

Definition

点 (diǎn) here is the verb 'to tap briefly' or 'to check off / mark with a dot.' Use it for light, quick contact and for ticking items on a list. 敲 is heavier — a firm knock or strike.

to tap or touch brieflyto mark with a dotto check off

Examples

  • 点。
    Qǐng diǎn yí xià zhè ge zì.
    Please tap this character.
  • 。
    Lǎo shī zhèng zài diǎn míng zì.
    The teacher is checking off names.
  • 点。
    Tā zài zhǐ shàng diǎn le yí gè diǎn.
    He marked a dot on the paper.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

Grammar

Appears in
100 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 3.0 Level 2500 Most Frequent Chinese Words1000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsShapes2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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