重点
じゅうてん · juuten · JLPT N2 · noun
point
📍 重 (heavy/weighty) + 点 (dot/point): a weighty dot, the key spot that counts most
重 means heavy or weighty, and 点 means dot or point. Together they name the point that carries the most weight, which is the emphasis you lay on it.
重 — person 人 + east 東 (phonetic)
Originally depicted a person carrying a heavy bundle on their back, suggesting weight and burden. The 東-like element served as a phonetic component. Over time the character split into two readings: zhòng meaning 'heavy' and chóng meaning 'repeat/again'.
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.