(くとうてん)

くとうてん
noun
punctuation marks
1. punctuation marks
written symbols used to separate sentences and clarify meaning, particularly the period and comma
句読点(くとうてん)(ただ)しく使(つか)う。
Use punctuation marks correctly.
文章(ぶんしょう)には適切(てきせつ)句読点(くとうてん)必要(ひつよう)だ。
Writing requires appropriate punctuation.
句読点(くとうてん)()(かた)(ぶん)意味(いみ)()わることがある。
The placement of punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence.

JAPANESE PUNCTUATION:

句読点(くとうてん) specifically refers to:

  • 句点(くてん)(。)- period (full stop)
  • 読点(とうてん)(、)- comma

OTHER PUNCTUATION MARKS:

  • 「 」- 括弧(かっこ) (quotation marks/brackets)
  • ? - 疑問符(ぎもんふ) (question mark)
  • ! - 感嘆符(かんたんふ) (exclamation mark)
  • ・ - 中点(なかてん) (middle dot)
  • … - 三点(さんてん)リーダー (ellipsis)

USAGE NOTES:

  • Japanese uses 。 and 、 instead of . and ,
  • Vertical text traditionally uses different punctuation placement
  • Formal writing follows specific rules for 句読点(くとうてん)

COMMON PHRASES:

  • 句読点(くとうてん)()つ - to add punctuation