點

Phono-semantic compound:

黑 (검을 흑, “black”) — semantic element, representing dark pigment or ink.

占 (점령할 점, “to divine, to mark”) — phonetic element, contributing the sound diǎn and the idea of marking or indicating.

The original image conveys placing a dark mark or ink spot upon a surface — hence the meaning “dot” or “to mark.”

점 (點) — a dot, spot, or mark

점검 (點檢) — to inspect or check systematically

점화 (點火) — to ignite, to light a flame

점두 (點頭) — to nod the head in acknowledgment

요점 (要點) — a main point, key idea

시점 (時點) — a specific point in time

Korean preserves both the literal and abstract senses of 點, ranging from visual marks to logical or temporal “points.”

In East Asian thought and aesthetics, 點 (dot) symbolizes the seed of creation — a minimal yet complete expression of form.

Philosophically, the “dot” represents the origin of multiplicity — the first moment of manifestation from emptiness (無中生有).

In calligraphy, the “dot stroke (點劃)” is fundamental: even a single point must contain balance, weight, and life. A skilled calligrapher’s dot embodies the same harmony as an entire character.

Calligraphers often say, “一點之中, 有乾坤” — “Within one dot lies the universe.”

A precise 點 carries 氣 (qi) — the inner breath of energy — and reflects the writer’s spirit at that moment. The vitality of the entire character often depends on the strength of its dots.

In painting, especially in ink landscapes, the act of 點染 (“dotting and shading”) gives texture and rhythm to mountains, foliage, and mist. Through rhythmic placement of dots, painters evoke movement, texture, and breath — bridging the visible and invisible.

Tea symbolism:

In traditional tea culture, the act of whisking powdered tea is called 點茶 (점다 / diǎn chá) — literally “to dot or touch the tea.”

This reflects the same refined spirit found in calligraphy: one precise movement that embodies focus, calm, and harmony.

During the Song dynasty, 點茶 was a meditative ritual: water was poured drop by drop, creating delicate foam, much like placing a dot of ink upon paper.

In Korean tea tradition, this sense of stillness remains — the pouring of tea becomes a visual metaphor for 一點靜心, “a single point of stillness in the mind.”

In Zen (禪) aesthetics, the phrase 一點禪心 (일점선심 / yīdiǎn chánxīn) — “a single point of Zen mind” — signifies complete awareness condensed into one instant, like a dot that contains eternity.

Thus, the character 點 transcends its literal meaning of a dot:

it becomes a symbol of mindfulness, precision, and creative awakening, bridging the worlds of art, ritual, and inner contemplation.

Modern & digital usage:

In the modern era, 點 also expanded into technological and temporal vocabulary:

時間點 (moment in time) — time point or timestamp.

焦點 (focus point) — focal point, center of attention.

網點 (dot matrix) — digital pixelation or printing dot pattern.

點擊 (click) — to click (a digital action).

Hence, 點 has evolved from a brush’s ink dot to a digital pixel, symbolizing the continuity of “marking” across eras — from calligraphy to computing.

点 (U+70B9) - simplified form used in China and Japan; also appears in older Korean name registrations.

奌 (U+594C) - rare variant found in personal names and calligraphic inscriptions.

㸃 ancient variant form occasionally found in classical texts.

Korea officially recognizes both 點 and 点 as name-usable characters. The simplified form 点 became popular through Japanese influence (“テン/ten”), leading to colloquial expressions like “땡땡이(ten-ten)” to describe repeated dots.