Chinese Conversation · Level 7
90 words
Chinese word
点
Pronunciation
Pinyindiǎn
Meaning
- nouno'clock
Example
现在是两点。xiàn zài shì liáng diǎn
It is two o'clock now.
More examples
电影七点开始。diàn yǐng qī diǎn kāi shǐ
The movie starts at seven o'clock.
Core concept
A small marked spot that singles out a position, choice, or moment from a larger whole.
Common phrases
几点jí diǎn
what time
两点liáng diǎn
two o'clock
两点半liáng diǎn bàn
two thirty
Similar words
钟zhōng: A clock or bell that indicates the time.
小时xiǎo shí: A standard time period of sixty minutes.
时间shí jiān: Time in a broad sense, covering when something happens or a period.
时候shí hòu: A time or period linked to an event without saying exactly when.
Definition in Chinese
表示钟表上或口语中某一小时的位置或时刻，常用于说出几点钟，也可与分钟或半小时并用。biǎo shì zhōng biǎo shàng huò kóu yǔ zhōng mǒu yì xiǎo shí de wèi zhì huò shí kè cháng yòng yú shuō chū jí diǎn zhōng yě kě yǔ fēn zhōng huò bàn xiǎo shí bìng yòng
Word origin
点 (diǎn, "dot") began with the idea of a small mark, then extended to a marked position or moment and to selecting items.
Usage tips
- Chinese places the hour before the time word and adds minutes or half an hour afterward, building clock times from larger units to smaller ones.
Other meanings
- orderverb
- pointnoun
- a littleadverb
Related words
- 点心diǎn xīnsnacknoun
- 点菜diǎn càiorder foodverb