Meaning of 起点
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- starting point
How to use 起点
起点 is used for the literal start of a race or route, and also for the beginning of a process, a career, or a new stage in life. It often appears in phrases like 新的起点 (xīn de qǐdiǎn, a new starting point). Example: 毕业不是终点，而是新的起点。(Bìyè bú shì zhōngdiǎn, ér shì xīn de qǐdiǎn.) Graduation is not the end but a new starting point.
起 (qǐ) means to rise or start, as in 起床 (qǐchuáng, to get up), and 点 (diǎn) means a point or dot, as in 地点 (dìdiǎn, place). Put them together and you get the point where something starts: 起点 (qǐdiǎn), the starting point.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes use 起点 as a verb meaning "to start," but it is a noun only. To say "start" as an action, use 开始 (kāishǐ) or 出发 (chūfā). Also keep both syllables in third tone, which in speech becomes qí diǎn because of tone sandhi.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
起 qǐ · to rise · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
点 diǎn · to touch briefly · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 起点.
| 一起 | yīqǐ | (in) the same place; together; in company (with) |
| 起来 | qǐlái | to stand up; to get up; also pr. [qi3lai2] |
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint |
| 地点 | dìdiǎn | place; site |
| 起床 | qǐchuáng | to get out of bed; to get up |
| 一点儿 | yīdiǎnr | erhua variant of 一點|一点[yi1 dian3] |
| 想起 | xiǎngqǐ | to recall; to think of |
| 一点点 | yī diǎndiǎn | a little bit |
| 重点 | zhòngdiǎn | to recount (e.g. results of election); to re-evaluate |
| 观点 | guāndiǎn | point of view; viewpoint |
| 起飞 | qǐfēi | (of an aircraft or rocket) to take off; to lift off; (fig.) (of an enterprise etc) to star |
| 有点儿 | yǒudiǎnr | slightly; a little |
Questions about 起点
What does 起点 mean?
起点 (qǐdiǎn) means "starting point" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 起点?
起点 is made of 2 characters: 起 (10 strokes), 点 (9 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 起点 an HSK word?
Yes. 起点 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 起点 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 起点 is written 起點.
What is the opposite of 起点?
The opposite is 终点 (zhōngdiǎn), meaning end point or finish line. The two often appear together, for example 从起点到终点 (cóng qǐdiǎn dào zhōngdiǎn), from start to finish.
How is 起点 different from 开始?
开始 (kāishǐ) can be a verb or a noun and focuses on the act or moment of beginning. 起点 is a noun for the place or position where something begins, so you say 比赛开始了 (the race started) but 运动员站在起点 (the athletes stand at the starting line).