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顶点 (dǐng diǎn) — peak, summit, apex; the highest point; (geometry) vertex; the point where two lines meet

Definition

Means 'peak/summit' (literal or figurative, e.g. of a career) and 'vertex' in geometry — the point where two sides of a shape meet. The geometry sense makes it more technical than 山顶.

noun
peaksummitapexthe highest point(geometry) vertexthe point where two lines meet

Examples

  • 顶点。
    Tā men zhōng yú pá dào le shān de dǐng diǎn.
    They finally climbed to the mountain's peak.
  • 顶点。
    Zhè shì tā shì yè de dǐng diǎn.
    This is the peak of his career.
  • 顶点。
    Sān jiǎo xíng de sān gè dǐng diǎn dōu zài zhǐ shàng.
    The three vertices of the triangle are all on the paper.

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.

顶dǐngtop
点diǎnpoint

顶 (top) describes 点 (point), the highest point.

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 頂; 顶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng頂dǐng
Same sound today

The traditional form 頂 pairs 頁, meaning head, with 丁, which supplies the sound; the simplified 顶 is a later abbreviation.

Open 顶 →

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
Geography & LandformsMath

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