dian (点) — dot, point, a little, o'clock in Chinese

simplified

traditional

diǎn

dot · point · a little · o'clock · to order · to light

HSK 1 笔画 9 (简) · 17 (繁) 部首灬 (fire) 声调第三声 (dipping) all dian readings →

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笔顺 bǐshùn · Stroke order

部首 radical (灬) 部件 component (rest of character) 书写 your drawing

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字源 zìyuán Etymology & Structure

字源洞见 zìyuán dòngjiàn · Etymological Insight

The traditional form 點 = 黑 (hēi, black) + 占 (zhān, the phonetic). It is a pictophonetic compound: 黑 supplies the meaning, a small black mark, a speck of soot or ink; 占 supplies the sound. The original sense is a black dot, the smallest possible mark on a surface. The simplified form 点 keeps the phonetic 占 on top and replaces the bulky 黑 with 灬, the four-dot "fire" radical at the bottom, which here reads as the dot itself.

From the single dot, the meanings fan out by analogy:

1. Dot and point. The literal mark: 点 a dot, 小数点 xiǎoshùdiǎn (decimal point), 地点 dìdiǎn (a spot, a location).
2. A little, some. A dot is the smallest amount, so 一点儿 yìdiǎnr means "a little bit," the everyday softener of quantity.
3. O'clock. The clock face is read off in points: 三点 sān diǎn (three o'clock), 几点 jǐ diǎn (what time).
4. To touch a point, hence to select or ignite. To put your finger on a point: 点菜 diǎn cài (to order dishes), 点头 diǎntóu (to nod), 点火 diǎnhuǒ (to light a fire).

The unifying image is the touch of a single point: the brush-tip on paper, the fingertip on a menu, the spark on a wick, the smallest measurable amount. Everywhere 点 goes, something is being pinpointed.

构词 gòucí Word-Formation Patterns

构词规律 gòucí guīlǜ · The Touched Point 点 as dot / point → 地点 location · 重点 key point · 优点 strong point · 缺点 shortcoming
点 as small quantity → 一点儿 a little · 有点儿 somewhat · 差点儿 nearly
点 as o'clock → 几点 what time · 三点半 half past three · 钟点 the hour
点 as the verb (to touch/select/ignite) → 点菜 order food · 点头 nod · 点火 light a fire · 点名 call the roll

一点儿 yìdiǎnr A Little — the Smallest Quantity

一点儿 yìdiǎnr a little; a bit; some (small amount)

PHR 短语 duǎnyǔ

一 yī (one) + 点 diǎn (dot) + 儿 (suffix). One dot's worth, the everyday way to say "a little." Placed after an adjective it softens it: 大一点儿 "a bit bigger." With a negative it means "not in the least": 一点儿都不累 "not tired at all."

请给我一点儿水。

Qǐng gěi wǒ yìdiǎnr shuǐ.

Please give me a little water.

这件衣服大一点儿。

Zhè jiàn yīfu dà yìdiǎnr.

This piece of clothing is a bit bigger.

辨析 biànxī · 一点儿 vs. 有点儿 一点儿 goes after an adjective to mark a small degree or comparison: 好一点儿 "a bit better." 有点儿 yǒudiǎnr goes before an adjective and carries a faint complaint: 有点儿贵 "a bit (too) expensive." The first measures; the second grumbles.

有点儿 yǒudiǎnr a little; somewhat (often with a negative nuance)

ADV 副词 fùcí

有 yǒu (to have) + 点儿 diǎnr (a bit). Placed before an adjective to mean "somewhat," usually about something mildly unwelcome: 有点儿累 "a bit tired," 有点儿冷 "a little cold."

我今天有点儿累。

Wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎnr lèi.

I'm a bit tired today.

点心 diǎnxin light refreshments; dim sum; pastry

N 名词 míngcí

点 diǎn (a dot, a touch) + 心 xīn (heart). Literally "to dot the heart," a small bite that touches the appetite lightly. In Cantonese this word, read dim sum, names the whole tradition of small steamed and fried dishes taken with tea.

下午我们吃点心吧。

Xiàwǔ wǒmen chī diǎnxin ba.

Let's have some refreshments in the afternoon.

地点 dìdiǎn Point & Place

地点 dìdiǎn place; location; site; venue

N 名词 míngcí

地 dì (ground) + 点 diǎn (point). A specific point on the ground, the precise spot where something happens: a meeting place, an event venue, the scene of an incident. More exact than 地方 dìfang.

请告诉我开会的时间和地点。

Qǐng gàosu wǒ kāihuì de shíjiān hé dìdiǎn.

Please tell me the time and place of the meeting.

重点 zhòngdiǎn key point; focus; emphasis; priority

N 名词 míngcí

重 zhòng (heavy; important) + 点 diǎn (point). The heavy point, the part that matters most. 重点大学 "key universities," 划重点 "to mark the key points," the things to underline.

这是这节课的重点。

Zhè shì zhè jié kè de zhòngdiǎn.

This is the key point of this lesson.

优点 yōudiǎn strong point; merit; advantage

N 名词 míngcí

优 yōu (excellent) + 点 diǎn (point). A good point, a strength. Its exact opposite is 缺点 quēdiǎn, a shortcoming. Together they are the standard pair for weighing a person, plan, or product.

每个方案都有优点和缺点。

Měi ge fāng'àn dōu yǒu yōudiǎn hé quēdiǎn.

Every plan has its merits and shortcomings.

点菜 diǎn cài To Order & To Light — the Verb 点

语义洞见 yǔyì dòngjiàn · Semantic Insight

As a verb, 点 means to touch a single point with intent, and that one gesture covers a surprising range. You touch an item on a menu to select it: 点菜 diǎn cài (to order food), 点歌 diǎn gē (to request a song). You touch a wick to ignite it: 点火 diǎnhuǒ (to light a fire), 点灯 diǎndēng (to light a lamp), 点蜡烛 (to light a candle). You touch each name on a list to count attendance: 点名 diǎnmíng (to call the roll). And you touch your chin down toward your chest to agree: 点头 diǎntóu (to nod).

In every case the verb is precise and momentary. It is not a sweep or a push but a single contact at one point. This is why ordering, lighting, nodding, and roll-calling all share the same word: each is one deliberate touch landing exactly where it is aimed.

点头 diǎntóu to nod (the head); to signal agreement

V 动词 dòngcí

点 diǎn (to touch a point) + 头 tóu (head). To dip the head once toward agreement or greeting. 点头同意 "to nod in agreement"; its opposite gesture is 摇头 yáotóu, to shake the head.

他点了点头表示同意。

Tā diǎn le diǎn tóu biǎoshì tóngyì.

He nodded to show his agreement.

点菜 diǎn cài to order dishes (at a restaurant)

V 动词 dòngcí

点 diǎn (to select by touch) + 菜 cài (dish; food). To choose dishes from a menu. The waiter's question 你们点菜了吗？ means "are you ready to order?"

我们先点菜，再聊天。

Wǒmen xiān diǎn cài, zài liáotiān.

Let's order first, then chat.

成语 chéngyǔ Idioms & Set Phrases

画龙点睛 huà lóng diǎn jīng to paint a dragon and dot in the eyes: the finishing touch that brings the whole to life Lit: paint-dragon-dot-pupils. From the legend of a painter whose dragons flew off the wall the moment he added their eyes. Said of the small, decisive stroke that animates an essay, a speech, or a plan.

点石成金 diǎn shí chéng jīn to touch stone and turn it to gold: to transform the ordinary into the priceless Lit: touch-stone-become-gold. From Daoist immortal lore, the touch that turns base rock to gold. Now used of an editor, teacher, or craftsman who makes something dull suddenly shine.

一点一滴 yì diǎn yì dī a dot and a drop: bit by bit, little by little Lit: one-dot-one-drop. The small increments by which patient effort accumulates. 一点一滴地积累 "to build up bit by bit."

指指点点 zhǐ zhǐ diǎn diǎn to point and gesture: to criticize or gossip about others behind their backs The reduplicated 指点 zhǐdiǎn (to point out, to instruct) turns sour here: to keep pointing fingers and passing judgment on what is not one's business.

记忆法 jìyìfǎ · Master Retention Image

Hold one dot of ink at the tip of a brush. Press it to paper and you have a 点, a point: a spot on a map (地点), the part that matters most (重点), the decimal that fixes a number. Make it the smallest possible amount and it becomes 一点儿, a little. Read it off a clock face and it becomes the hour, 三点.

Now make the brush a finger. Touch a dish on the menu and you have ordered it (点菜); touch a wick and you have lit it (点火); dip your head once and you have agreed (点头). Every meaning of 点 is one deliberate touch at a single point, whether the point is on paper, on a clock, on a menu, or on a candle.