m.
A precise point or dot marking one position on a scale or dial. O'clock; an hour as a specific point in time. Fire dots (灬) burn marks on a dial (占) to pinpoint each hour.
点
n.
A tiny black speck or droplet left by fire. A dot, point, spot, aspect, decimal point, or clock hour. Fire sparks (灬) leaving small distinct dots beneath a vessel (占).
v.
To touch or mark lightly with a small tip. To order food; to click; to light a fire. Fire/heat marks (灬) leaving black soot dots on an object (占).
n., m.
o'clock; point; dot; a bit
Common Usage & Traps
- 三点 — three o'clock
- 一点 — one o'clock; a little bit
- 几点 — what time
- 一点儿 — a little bit
- 三个点 — three dots
- 三点半 — half past three
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等了三点等了三个小时For a length of time, use 小时. 等了三点 sounds like you waited until three o'clock.
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三个点见三点见For clock time, don't add 个. 三个点 means three dots, not three o'clock.
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我一点累我有一点累To say 'a little tired', use 有一点 before the adjective. 一点 alone doesn't work there.
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我去一点我一点去Clock time goes before the verb. 我去一点 sounds like you go a little.
Can 点 mean 'hour' like in 'I waited for three hours'?
No. 点 marks a clock time, not a length of time.
三点 means three o'clock, a point on the clock. 三个小时 means three hours, a duration. If you say 我等了三点, it sounds like you waited until three o'clock. For a length of time, use 三个小时 or 三小时. Think of 点 as a clock hand, not a stopwatch. “年月日点半。” (Year, month, day, o'clock, half.) ── [《一二三（2）》](/read/counting-days-rhymes#s4)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 3 o'clock | 三点见。 | 三个点见。 |
| 3-hour wait | 等了三个小时。 | 等了三点。 |
Does 一点 mean one o'clock or a little?
Yes. Position and context tell you if 一点 means one o'clock or a little.
一点 before a verb usually means one o'clock: 我一点去. 一点 after a verb usually means a little: 我吃一点. With 有, 有一点 means a bit: 我有一点累. The written form is the same, so word order does the heavy lifting.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| One o'clock | 我一点去。 | 我去一点。 |
| A little food | 我吃一点。 | 我一点吃。 |
| A bit tired | 我有一点累。 | 我一点累。 |
Why is 三点 'three o'clock' but 三个点 'three dots'?
Clock hours skip 个; real dots take it. 三点 is 3:00, 三个点 is three dots.
三点 is a time unit: three on the clock. 点 as a dot is a normal noun, so it takes the measure word 个: 三个点. If you mean 3:00, never add 个. If you mean three dots, 三点 alone sounds like 3:00, so use 三个点.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 三点 | 三个点 |
| Three dots | 三个点 | 三点 |
Featured in Story Deep Dive
Follow how this word unfolds across the narrative arc of this graded story.
This playful poem turns numbers into a rhythm of daily life. As you read, practice counting, days of the week, and common time words in a fun, memorable way.
- Scene #1
年月日 点 半。
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