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百分点 (bǎi fēn diǎn) — percentage point

Definition

百分点 (bǎi fēn diǎn) is the unit used when comparing two percentages — e.g. "up 3 percentage points". Don't confuse with 百分比, which is the percentage itself (e.g. 50%).

noun
percentage point

Examples

  • 百分点。
    Jīn nián shī yè lǜ xià jiàng le bǎi fēn diǎn.
    The unemployment rate dropped by two percentage points this year.
  • 百分点。
    Tā de dé piào lǜ bǐ duì shǒu gāo sān gè bǎi fēn diǎn.
    His vote share was three percentage points higher than his opponent's.
  • 百分点。
    Tōng huò péng zhàng lǜ jiàng dī le líng diǎn wǔ gè bǎi fēn diǎn.
    The inflation rate decreased by 0.5 percentage points.

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.

百分hundred parts
百bǎihundred分fēnpart
偏正Modifier + head
点diǎnpoint

百分 (hundred parts) modifies 点 (point), giving a percentage point.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
一一yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái百bǎi
Same sound today

百 combines 一, which carries the number meaning, with 白, which provides the sound.

Open 百 →

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

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Math

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