百分点

• Pinyin: bǎi fēn diǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 百 = 一 (one) + 白 (white/hundred); 分 = 八 (eight) + 刀 (knife), to divide; 点 = dot/point

Meaning

Percentage point. The unit used to express the arithmetic difference between two percentages.

A precise term used in statistics, economics, and finance to measure the difference between two percentages. For example, a rise from 3% to 5% is an increase of 2 percentage points, not 2 percent. Important for accurate reporting of data changes.

Examples

1. 今年的经济增长率比去年提高了两个百分点。 This year's economic growth rate increased by two percentage points compared to last year.
2. 失业率下降了零点五个百分点，这是个积极的信号。 The unemployment rate dropped by 0.5 percentage points — this is a positive signal.
3. 央行宣布将利率下调二十五个百分点。 The central bank announced it would cut the interest rate by 25 basis points.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, statistics, news

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 通货膨胀率上升了一点五个百分点。(The inflation rate rose by 1.5 percentage points.)
• 市场份额增加了三个百分点。(Market share increased by three percentage points.)

Don't Say

• 不要把'百分点'和'百分比'混淆 (Don't confuse 百分点 with 百分比 — 百分点 is the difference between percentages, while 百分比 is a percentage itself)

Origin & History

Compound of 百分 (percent) + 点 (point), calqued from the English statistical term 'percentage point.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal