点diǎn
Character evolution
点
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Simplified · Today
繁体
Traditional Chinese
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Shuowen
点 (diǎn). The oracle bone form shows a divination instrument (占) above a blackened mark (黑), indicating the act of making a dot or spot. In later script the bottom was simplified to fire (灬), suggesting the heating of a needle to brand a point. The character thus encodes the ancient practice of marking a spot for ritual or record.
Pinyin
diǎn· HSK 1