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一点 (yī diǎn) — point

Definition

一点 (yī diǎn) is the standard quantifier for 'a little / a bit' (food, time, progress). Negated as 一点也/都 not even a little. Often marks a slight degree (adjective + 一点).

quantifier
point

Examples

  • 一点。
    Qǐng gěi wǒ yī diǎn shuǐ.
    Please give me a little water.
  • 一点。
    Wǒ yī diǎn shí jiān dōu méi yǒu.
    I don't have any time at all.
  • 一点。
    Tā yī diǎn dōu bù gāo xìng.
    He is not happy at all.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
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