Japanese word

点

Pronunciation

Romajiten

Meaning

  • noundot, point

Example

紙に点を打ちます。kami ni ten o u chi ma su

I put a dot on the paper.

Illustration for 点 (dot)

More examples

算数で百点を取りました。san sū de hyaku ten o to ri ma shi ta

I got one hundred points in math.

画面の小さな点が見えます。ga men no chii sa na ten ga mi e ma su

A small dot is visible on the screen.

Core concept

A tiny mark singles out one place or separates parts, while a point can also count toward a result.

Common phrases

  • 点をつけるten o tsu ke ru

    add a dot

  • 点を打つten o u tsu

    put a dot

Similar words

印shirushi: A small symbol or mark placed to identify a specific location.
しるしshirushi: A mark that gives information about a place, object, or meaning.

Definition in Japanese

場所や区切りを示す小さな印。また、採点や競技で数えられる得点。ba sho ya ku gi ri o shime su chii sa na shirushi ma ta sai ten ya kyō gi de kazo e ra re ru toku ten

Word origin

The kanji 点 (ten, "dot" or "point") comes from the older form 點 (ten), made from 黒 (kuro, "black") and 占 (sen, a sound element), and originally meant a black spot.

Usage tips

  • In 点字 (tenji, "Braille"), 点 (ten, "dot") refers to the raised marks arranged in patterns for reading by touch.

Other meanings

  • marknoun
  • scorenoun

Word lists with this word