What are Chinese punctuation marks?
Chinese punctuation marks are called「標點符號 biāodiǎn fúhào」.
Many Chinese punctuation marks are similar to English punctuation marks, but some marks look different or are used differently.
For beginners, the most important marks are:
- 「，」comma
- 「。」full stop / period
- 「、」enumeration comma
- 「？」question mark
- 「！」exclamation mark
- 「：」colon
- 「；」semicolon
- 「「 」」quotation marks
- 「《 》」title marks
1. 標點符號 biāodiǎn fúhào: punctuation marks
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 標點符號 ♬ | biāodiǎn fúhào | punctuation marks |
There are some small differences in punctuation usage across Chinese-speaking regions. For beginner learners, you do not need to memorize every regional detail first. Learn the common marks and common usage first.
2. ，逗號 dòuhào: comma
「，」is the Chinese comma. It is used to make a pause inside a sentence.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ， | 逗號 ♬ | dòuhào | comma |
| Example | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我想去台灣，但是我沒有時間。 ♬ | wǒ xiǎng qù Táiwān, dànshì wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān | I want to go to Taiwan, but I do not have time. |
3. 。句點 jùdiǎn: full stop / period
「。」is the Chinese full stop. It is used at the end of a sentence.
The shape is different from the English period “.”.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 。 | 句點 ♬ | jùdiǎn | full stop; period |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我喜歡中文。 ♬ | wǒ xǐhuān Zhōngwén | I like Chinese. |
4. ？問號 wènhào: question mark
「？」is the Chinese question mark. It looks the same as the English question mark, but in Chinese text it usually occupies a full-width space.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ？ | 問號 ♬ | wènhào | question mark |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你喜歡中文嗎？ ♬ | nǐ xǐhuān Zhōngwén ma | Do you like Chinese? |
5. ！驚嘆號 jīngtànhào / 感嘆號 gǎntànhào: exclamation mark
「！」is used for surprise, strong feeling, warning, or emphasis.
In Taiwan,「驚嘆號」is common.「感嘆號」is also understood.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ！ | 驚嘆號 / 感嘆號 ♬ | jīngtànhào / gǎntànhào | exclamation mark |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 小心！ ♬ | xiǎoxīn | Be careful! |
| 太好了！ ♬ | tài hǎo le | Great! |
6. ；分號 fēnhào: semicolon
「；」is the Chinese semicolon. It is used to separate related clauses or items that are longer than simple list items.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ； | 分號 ♬ | fēnhào | semicolon |
| Example | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我想去台灣；他想去日本。 ♬ | wǒ xiǎng qù Táiwān; tā xiǎng qù Rìběn | I want to go to Taiwan; he wants to go to Japan. |
7. ：冒號 màohào: colon
「：」is the Chinese colon. It is often used before explanations, lists, examples, or quoted speech.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ： | 冒號 ♬ | màohào | colon |
| Example | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我需要三樣東西：水、食物和手機。 ♬ | wǒ xūyào sān yàng dōngxi: shuǐ, shíwù hé shǒujī | I need three things: water, food, and a phone. |
8. （ ）括號 kuòhào: parentheses
「（ ）」are Chinese parentheses. They are used to add extra information, notes, or explanations.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| （ ） | 括號 ♬ | kuòhào | parentheses; brackets |
| Example | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 台北（台灣的首都）很方便。 ♬ | Táiběi (Táiwān de shǒudū) hěn fāngbiàn | Taipei (the capital of Taiwan) is very convenient. |
9. 「 」引號 yǐnhào: quotation marks
Chinese quotation marks are different from English quotation marks.
In traditional Chinese writing, quotation marks are often written as「 」. Double quotation marks can be written as『 』inside「 」.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 「 」 | 引號 ♬ | yǐnhào | quotation marks |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他說：「我喜歡中文。」 ♬ | tā shuō: “wǒ xǐhuān Zhōngwén.” | He said, “I like Chinese.” |
You may also see English-style quotation marks “ ” in some Chinese materials. Different publications may use different styles.
10. 、頓號 dùnhào: enumeration comma
「、」is called「頓號 dùnhào」. It is used to separate items in a list.
English often uses commas and “and” in a list. Chinese often uses「、」between list items and「和」before the final item.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 、 | 頓號 ♬ | dùnhào | enumeration comma |
| English style | Chinese style |
|---|---|
| A, B, and C | A、B 和 C ♬ |
| apples, bananas, and oranges | 蘋果、香蕉和橘子 ♬ |
In Taiwan,「和」may be pronounced as「hàn」in daily speech when it means “and.” The standard teaching pronunciation is「hé」.
11. ‧ 音界號 yīnjièhào / 間隔號 jiàngéhào: middle dot
The middle dot is used in translated foreign names, especially to separate parts of a non-Chinese personal name.
In Taiwan, this mark may be called「音界號」. In many Chinese-language materials,「間隔號」is also common.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‧ / · | 音界號 / 間隔號 ♬ | yīnjièhào / jiàngéhào | middle dot; interpunct |
| English name | Chinese translation | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Donald John Trump | 唐納・約翰・川普 ♬ | Tángnà Yuēhàn Chuānpǔ |
Foreign names are often translated into Chinese by sound. Different Chinese-speaking regions may use different translations for the same foreign name.
12. —— 破折號 pòzhéhào: dash
The Chinese dash is usually written as「——」. It is longer than the English dash and often takes the space of two Chinese characters.
It can be used to add an explanation, show a change of thought, or create a pause.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| —— | 破折號 ♬ | pòzhéhào | dash |
| Example | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我最喜歡的地方——台灣。 ♬ | wǒ zuì xǐhuān de dìfang — Táiwān | My favorite place — Taiwan. |
13. …… 刪節號 shānjiéhào: ellipsis
The Chinese ellipsis is usually written as「……」with six dots. It often takes the space of two Chinese characters.
It can show omitted words, a pause, hesitation, or unfinished speech.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| …… | 刪節號 ♬ | shānjiéhào | ellipsis |
| Example | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我……不知道。 ♬ | wǒ... bù zhīdào | I... do not know. |
14. 《 》書名號 shūmínghào: title marks
「書名號 shūmínghào」is used for titles of books, magazines, movies, songs, articles, and similar works.
This is different from English, where titles may be written in italics or quotation marks depending on the style guide.
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 《 》 | 書名號 ♬ | shūmínghào | title marks |
| Example | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 《時代》是一本雜誌。 ♬ | Shídài shì yì běn zázhì | Time is a magazine. |
| 我喜歡《不能說的秘密》。 ♬ | wǒ xǐhuān Bùnéng Shuō De Mìmì | I like Secret. |
Note: In older or specific publishing styles, you may also see a wavy or straight line used for some title or proper-name marking, but for beginner learners,「《 》」is the most useful form to learn first.
15. Common punctuation table
| Mark | Chinese name | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ， | 逗號 ♬ | dòuhào | comma |
| 。 | 句點 ♬ | jùdiǎn | full stop; period |
| 、 | 頓號 ♬ | dùnhào | enumeration comma |
| ？ | 問號 ♬ | wènhào | question mark |
| ！ | 驚嘆號 / 感嘆號 ♬ | jīngtànhào / gǎntànhào | exclamation mark |
| ； | 分號 ♬ | fēnhào | semicolon |
| ： | 冒號 ♬ | màohào | colon |
| 「 」 | 引號 ♬ | yǐnhào | quotation marks |
| 《 》 | 書名號 ♬ | shūmínghào | title marks |
| —— | 破折號 ♬ | pòzhéhào | dash |
| …… | 刪節號 ♬ | shānjiéhào | ellipsis |
Quick review
| Mark | Main use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ， | pause inside a sentence | 我想去台灣，但是我沒有時間。 ♬ |
| 。 | end a sentence | 我喜歡中文。 ♬ |
| 、 | separate items in a list | 蘋果、香蕉和橘子 ♬ |
| ？ | end a question | 你喜歡中文嗎？ ♬ |
| ！ | show strong feeling | 小心！ ♬ |
| 「 」 | quote speech or words | 他說：「我喜歡中文。」 ♬ |
| 《 》 | mark titles | 《時代》是一本雜誌。 ♬ |
Useful vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 標點符號 ♬ | biāodiǎn fúhào | punctuation marks |
| 逗號 ♬ | dòuhào | comma |
| 句點 ♬ | jùdiǎn | full stop; period |
| 問號 ♬ | wènhào | question mark |
| 驚嘆號 ♬ | jīngtànhào | exclamation mark |
| 感嘆號 ♬ | gǎntànhào | exclamation mark |
| 分號 ♬ | fēnhào | semicolon |
| 冒號 ♬ | màohào | colon |
| 括號 ♬ | kuòhào | parentheses; brackets |
| 引號 ♬ | yǐnhào | quotation marks |
| 頓號 ♬ | dùnhào | enumeration comma |
| 音界號 ♬ | yīnjièhào | middle dot; interpunct |
| 間隔號 ♬ | jiàngéhào | middle dot; separator mark |
| 破折號 ♬ | pòzhéhào | dash |
| 刪節號 ♬ | shānjiéhào | ellipsis |
| 書名號 ♬ | shūmínghào | title marks |
| 名字 ♬ | míngzi | name |
| 翻譯 ♬ | fānyì | to translate; translation |
| 雜誌 ♬ | zázhì | magazine |
| 電影 ♬ | diànyǐng | movie |
| 歌曲 ♬ | gēqǔ | song |
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