1.
interpunct; middle dot (・)
The Japanese punctuation mark (・) placed at the center of the line, used to separate items in a list, mark boundaries in katakana words, or indicate an abbreviation.
中黒で区切る。
To separate with an interpunct.
カタカナの人名は中黒で姓と名を分ける。
In katakana names, an interpunct separates the surname and given name.
並列する語を列挙するとき、読点の代わりに中黒を使うことがある。
When listing parallel terms, an interpunct is sometimes used instead of a comma.
Also called 中点 or 中ポツ. The character 中 means "middle" and 黒 means "black (dot)," describing its appearance as a dot positioned in the middle of the line.
USAGE:
The 中黒 (・) serves several functions in Japanese writing:
- Separating items in a list: 赤・青・黄
- Marking word boundaries in katakana: マイケル・ジャクソン
- Separating parallel or contrasting items: 和・洋
- Indicating date components: 2024・3・15
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 中黒で区切る — to separate with an interpunct
- 中黒を打つ — to type/insert an interpunct
- 中黒区切り — interpunct-delimited
RELATED TERMS:
- 読点 — comma (、); the standard Japanese comma
- 句点 — period (。); the Japanese full stop
- 中点 — interpunct; an alternative name for the same mark