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标点 (biāo diǎn) — punctuation (as a system); a punctuation mark

Definition

标点 is the general term for the punctuation system; a single mark (逗号 comma, 句号 period, etc.) is 一(个)标点. Distinguish from the verb 标点 used in formal/written contexts.

noun
punctuation (as a system)a punctuation mark
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，标点。
    Xiě wén zhāng shí, zhèng què shǐ yòng biāo diǎn hěn zhòng yào.
    When writing an article, using punctuation correctly is very important.
  • 标点，。
    Zhè ge biāo diǎn shì dòu hào, bú shì jù hào.
    This punctuation mark is a comma, not a period.
  • 标点，。
    Nǐ wàng le jiā biāo diǎn, jù zi yì si bù qīng chǔ.
    You forgot to add punctuation, so the sentence meaning is unclear.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

标biāomark
点diǎndot

标 and 点 both refer to marks or dots; together they form 标点.

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 標; 标 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
票
票piào標biāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 標 pairs 木 with 票, and 票 gives the sound; the simplified 标 is the modern form of that traditional character.

Open 标 →

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 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 5

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