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要点 (yào diǎn) — main point, key point

Definition

要点 (yàodiǎn) is the 'main points' or 'key items' of a text, speech, or plan, usually listed or summarized. Use it when you can enumerate them, unlike 关键 which highlights a single crucial link.

noun
main pointkey point
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 要点？
    Zhè cì huì yì de yào diǎn shì shén me?
    What is the main point of this meeting?
  • 要点。
    Qǐng zhuā zhù fā yán de yào diǎn.
    Please grasp the key point of the speech.
  • ，要点。
    Tā jiǎng le bàn tiān, méi shuō chū yào diǎn.
    He talked for a long time but didn't get to the point.

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.

要yàoessential
点diǎnpoint

“要” means essential, and “点” means point; together they denote the key point.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

要 began as a drawing of a person with both hands pointing to the waist.

Open 要 →

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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