点名

• Pinyin: diǎn míng
• Hanzi breakdown: 点 = simplified from 點, meaning to point or check; 名 = 夕 (evening) + 口 (mouth)

Meaning

Roll call; to call the roll. The act of reading names aloud to check who is present.

Most commonly used in school and military settings where attendance is taken. Can also mean to single someone out by name, as in 点名批评 (to criticise someone by name). Functions as both a verb phrase and a noun.

Examples

1. 老师每天上课前都要点名。 The teacher takes roll every day before class.
2. 今天点名的时候有三个同学没到。 Three students were absent during roll call today.
3. 领导在会上点名表扬了小张。 The manager praised Xiao Zhang by name at the meeting.

Usage Guide

Context: school, workplace

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 上课前先点名。(Let's take roll before class starts.)
• 他被老师点名回答问题了。(He was called on by the teacher to answer a question.)

Don't Say

• 用'点名'代替'叫名字' (Don't use 点名 when you simply want to call someone's name to get their attention — 点名 implies checking attendance or singling someone out formally)

Origin & History

Compound of 点 (to point, to check) and 名 (name). Originally meant to point at or mark off names on a list.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal