一点点 (yī diǎn diǎn) — a little bit; a tiny amount

Definition

bound form

a little bita tiny amount

Examples

一点点。
Wǒ zhǐ yào yī diǎn diǎn jiù gòu le.
I only need a little bit, that's enough.
一点点。
Tā shuō huà shí dài le yī diǎn diǎn jǐn zhāng.
He was a little bit nervous when he spoke.
一点点。
Qǐng zài gěi wǒ yī diǎn diǎn shí jiān.
Please give me a little more time.

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.

一yīone

点点tiny bits

点diǎndot点diǎndot

重叠Reduplication

一点点 pairs 一 (one) with 点点 (tiny bits) to mean a very small amount.

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.

黑占點

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 →