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终点 (zhōng diǎn) — end point, finish line, destination, terminus

Definition

终点 is a concrete 'end point' — the finish line of a race or the terminal stop of a route. It's a physical endpoint, unlike 最终 ('the final [stage/result]'), and pairs naturally with 起点 ('starting point').

noun
end pointfinish linedestinationterminus
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 终点。
    Tā dì yī gè pǎo dào le zhōng diǎn.
    He was the first to run to the finish line.
  • 。
    Zhè liàng gōng jiāo chē de zhōng diǎn zhàn shì huǒ chē zhàn.
    The terminal stop of this bus is the train station.
  • 终点。
    Zhè cì lǚ xíng de zhōng diǎn shì hǎi biān.
    The destination of this trip is the seaside.

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.

终zhōngend
点diǎnpoint

The end meaning specifies the final position, while point marks a location.

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 終; 终 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
冬
冬dōng終zhōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 終 pairs 糸 (a cord) with 冬 as a sound part; the simplified 终 is a later shorthand. An older form showed a knot at the end of a cord.

Open 终 →

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
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