Meaning
(downwards-right convex character stroke); o'clock; (a measure word); point; dot; (decimal) point)
Chinese: 小点、时间点或一点儿。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “dian” becomes a different word in each tone. 点 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 地点dì diǎnplace; site; location; venue
- 一点儿yī diǎn rcolloquial (-r) form of 一点
- 有点儿yǒu diǎn rslightly; a little; somewhat
- 重点chóng diǎnto recount (e.g. results of election); to re-evaluate
- 观点guān diǎnpoint of view; viewpoint; standpoint
Example Sentence
现在是八点半。Xiàn zài shì bā diǎn bàn.It is now half past eight.
现在Xiàn zàinow是shìis八bāeight点diǎnto touch briefly半bànhalf。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
Simplified from 點 (黑 black + 占). The fire-dots 灬 hint at lighting. It means ‘a dot, point, spot; o'clock; a bit; to light; to check off; to order (food)’.
A way to remember it
A tiny dot — a point; an hour; a little; to light.