noun HSK 4
Traditional 逗號
comma
Meaning
逗号 refers to the punctuation mark used to separate parts of a sentence or items in a list. In Chinese writing, the comma appears as 「,」(full-width) rather than the half-width comma used in English.
Usage
This is a formal, technical term commonly used in grammar lessons, writing instruction, and discussions about punctuation. In everyday speech, people might simply point to the mark or describe its function rather than naming it. The Chinese comma is visually distinct from the English comma.
Examples
- 01这个句子里少了一个逗号。.This sentence is missing a comma.
- 02中文的逗号和英文的不一样。.The Chinese comma is different from the English one.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个逗号
Common collocations
- 打逗号to type/insert a comma
- 用逗号隔开to separate with commas
Origin
The character 逗 originally meant 'to stop' or 'to pause,' which relates to the comma's function of creating a brief pause in reading. Combined with 号 (mark/sign), it literally means 'pause mark.'