点点 (diǎn diǎn) — a tiny bit, a small amount; scattered dots, spe…

Definition

Reduplicated 点: as a noun it means 'a tiny bit, a little' (feelings, money) or 'scattered dots, specks' (light, stars). The repeated form emphasizes smallness or scattering, unlike plain 点 which is more neutral.

noun

a tiny bita small amountscattered dotsspecks

Measure word · 点

Examples

，点点。
Tā tīng le wǒ de huà, xīn lǐ zhǐ yǒu diǎn diǎn gǎn dòng.
After hearing my words, he only felt a tiny bit of emotion.
点点，。
Yè kōng zhōng de diǎn diǎn xīng guāng, ràng rén gǎn dào níng jìng.
The scattered starlight in the night sky makes one feel peaceful.
点点，。
Wǒ gěi le tā diǎn diǎn qián, ràng tā zì jǐ mǎi diǎn chī de.
I gave him a little money to buy some food himself.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

点diǎndot/point

点 means a dot or a bit; repeating it gives scattered small dots or a tiny amount.

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.

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 →