点 點
1. Dot / Spot / Point
- 黑点 (hēi diǎn) Black dot
- 红点 (hóng diǎn) Red dot
- 焦点 (jiāo diǎn) Focal point Literal. The scorched spot
- 重点 (zhòng diǎn) Focus / Main point Literal. Heavy point
2. Point (Gesture towards a direction)
- 点头 (diǎn tóu) Nod
- 点菜 (diǎn cài) Order (food) Literal. Point out the dishes
- 点评 (diǎn píng) Comment Literal. Point and critique
- 指点 (zhǐ diǎn) Guide Literal. Instruct and point
3. Lighting up a spot
- 点亮 (diǎn liàng) Illuminate / Brighten up
- 点亮人生 (diǎn liàng rén shēng) Brighten up one's life
- 点燃 (diǎn rán) Ignite
4. Point in time (Time marker)
- 三点 (sān diǎn) Three o'clock
- 十点 (shí diǎn) Ten o'clock
- 早点起床 (zǎo diǎn qǐ chuáng) Wake up early Literal. Earlier point-in-time wake up
- 航班晚点 Flight delay Literal. Flight later point-in-time
5. A bit (Small uncountable amount)
- 一点心意 (yì diǎn xīn yì) A little something Literal. A bit of heart(felt) thought – a token of appreciation or a thoughtful gift for someone
- 有点累 (yóu diǎn lèi) Slightly tired Literal. Exist a bit of tiredness
- 喝点茶 (hē diǎn chá) Have some tea Literal. Drink a bit of tea
+ A LITTLE MORE +
点心 (diǎn xīn) Dim Sum (Cantonese) – Hong Kong's culture of having an array of light snacks with morning tea – originates from - 点点心意 (diǎn diǎn xīn yì) which literally means "bits and bits (of snacks) made with love". In many Chinese-speaking countries outside Hong Kong, it is termed Hong Kong Dim Sum (香港点心) to be specific. This is because 点心 (diǎn xīn) or 小点心 (xiǎo diǎn xīn) could generically mean "light refreshments" – served at tea breaks, in between meals or on a flight
点赞 (diàn zàn) Give a thumbs up / Click the "Like" button Literal. Point and praise – a modern term with the birth of social media
画龙点睛 (huà lóng diǎn jīng) Most vital finishing touch Literal. Painting a dragon and bringing it to life with a dot to its eye – In ancient folklore, a great painter once painted four dragons on a temple wall without painting their eyes. People insisted on having the final bits. As a result, two dragons came to life and flew off upon getting their eyes drawn, leaving only two left on the wall mural. This particular phrase has been positively used to describe a quintessential body of work.
心有灵犀一点通 (xīn yǒu líng xī yī diǎn tōng) Two hearts beat as one/ Telepathic Literal. Hearts exist (like) supernatural rhinoceros, one point connection – a verse from an untitled poem by Tang Dynasty poet, Li Shangyin (李商隐). In those times, the Chinese believed that rhinoceros communicate through magical powers in their horns. Today, this phrase is often used to mean "telepathy" and the closeness between two people.