点到为止 (diǎn dào wéi zhǐ) — to stop at the right point; to know when enough is enough; (martial arts) to stop a technique upon contact without injuring the opponent

Definition

A chengyu meaning to stop at the right point — in speech, touch on something briefly without going further; in martial arts, halt the move on contact without hurting the opponent.

idiom
to stop at the right pointto know when enough is enough(martial arts) to stop a technique upon contact without injuring the opponent

Examples

  • 点到为止，。
    Tā shuō huà zǒng shì diǎn dào wéi zhǐ, jì biǎo dá le guān diǎn yòu bù shāng rén.
    He always knows when to stop in speaking — he expresses his point without hurting others.
  • 点到为止，。
    Zhè jiàn shì nǐ diǎn dào wéi zhǐ jiù xíng le, bú yòng shuō dé tài xiáng xì.
    Just touch on this matter briefly — you don't need to go into detail.
  • 点到为止，。
    Bǐ sài guī zé qiáng diào diǎn dào wéi zhǐ, bù yǔn xǔ yòng lì jī dǎ duì shǒu.
    The competition rules emphasize stopping on contact; powerful blows are not allowed.

Origin

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 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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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

止 was drawn as a footprint pointing up, with three toes and a sole, originally showing a foot.

Open 止 →

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