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出发点 (chū fā diǎn) — starting point (literal, e.g. of a trip); (figurative) basis, foundation (of an argument, theory, etc.); (figurative) motive, intention (the reason for doing something)

Definition

出发点 covers both 'starting point' (a trip or process) and, figuratively, the 'basis' or 'motive' behind something. It is broader and more figurative than 起点 (which stays concrete); for 'motive' specifically, it overlaps closely with 动机.

noun
starting point (literal, e.g. of a trip)(figurative) basisfoundation (of an argument, theory, etc.)(figurative) motiveintention (the reason for doing something)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，出发点。
    Cóng shàng hǎi dào běi jīng de huǒ chē, chū fā diǎn shì shàng hǎi.
    The starting point of the train from Shanghai to Beijing is Shanghai.
  • 出发点。
    Tā de yán jiū chū fā diǎn shì kē xué shù jù.
    The basis of his research is scientific data.
  • 出发点。
    Nǐ bì xū liǎo jiě tā xíng dòng de shí jì chū fā diǎn.
    You must understand the actual motive behind his actions.

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.

出发depart
出chūgo out发fādepart
联合Coordinate
点diǎnpoint

“出发” means depart and “点” is a point, so the point where one departs.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

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 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.