gaan3 gaak3 hou6間隔號间隔号
Definition
Separation dot; the punctuation mark "・" used in Chinese to separate words.
How it's used
Used primarily in formal writing or official documents to separate parts of a name, especially when transliterating non-Chinese names into characters. It is distinct from a standard period or decimal point because it is vertically centered in the line of text. In casual digital communication, people often substitute it with a simple middle dot or even a slash if the specific character is unavailable on their keyboard.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with a standard full stop or a decimal point, which are placed at the bottom of the line rather than the middle. Using a regular period instead of a proper separation dot can make names look messy or incorrect in formal contexts.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
