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焦点 (jiāo diǎn) — focal point, focus (literal and figurative)

Definition

焦点 (jiāodiǎn) is a formal 'focus / focal point,' used for both literal optics (camera focus) and figurative attention. Among HSK siblings, 重点 means 'key emphasis' (what's most important), while 要点 means 'main points to note' (a summary list).

noun
focal pointfocus (literal and figurative)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 焦点。
    Zhè ge wèn tí de jiāo diǎn zài yú rú hé jiě jué.
    The focal point of this issue is how to solve it.
  • 焦点。
    Tā bǎ jìng tóu jiāo diǎn diào dào le zuì jìn.
    He adjusted the camera's focus to the nearest setting.
  • 焦点。
    Tā yì zhí shì méi tǐ guān zhù de jiāo diǎn.
    She has always been the focus of media attention.

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.

焦jiāoburn
点diǎnpoint

焦 suggests burning or focusing and 点 means point, naming where light meets.

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
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
小
小xiǎo焦jiāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 焦 glyph first paired 隹 (bird) with 小 as a sound part. The 小 part later changed into a fire shape, and the character was then used for scorching.

Open 焦 →

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 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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