点
diǎn · HSK 1
to bring up
👉 点 = a dot/point; as measure word, marks an approximate amount or time
Originally meant a small dot or spot. Extended to mean 'a little' or 'a bit' as a measure word for proximation — e.g. 一点 (yìdiǎn) = a tiny bit. The pictograph shows a mark or speck.
点 — fire radical 灬 + 占 (zhān, phonetic)
Originally written 點, a semantic-phonetic compound: 黑 (black) gave the meaning 'small black mark or dot' while 占 supplied the sound. It first referred to ink spots, then extended to 'point, drop, a little,' and verbs like 'to mark' or 'to light (a fire),' reflected in the simplified form's 灬 (fire) component.