✅ What is 顿号 (、)?
The 顿号 (、) is a unique punctuation mark used in written Chinese. It’s known as the enumeration comma or pause mark, and it looks like a small slash slanting left: 、.
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? Main Function:
The 顿号 is used to separate items in a list of three or more parallel words or phrases.
It serves the same role as the English comma (,) when listing items, but is only used between words or phrases in Chinese writing.
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? Examples:
• 我买了苹果、香蕉、橘子和葡萄。
I bought apples, bananas, oranges, and grapes.
• 他是一个聪明、勇敢、正直的人。
He is a smart, brave, and honest person.
? The 顿号 is used between parallel adjectives or nouns, just like English commas in a list.
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⚠️ Rules and Tips:
- ✅ Only used when listing three or more items.
• Correct: 我喜欢音乐、电影、旅游。
• Incorrect: 我喜欢音乐、和电影。 (“和” means “and” — don’t use it with 顿号 like this.)
If there are only two items, use “和” (and) or “或” (or), without 顿号.
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- ✅ Used even if “和” or “或” appears at the end of a list.
• 她会说英语、法语和西班牙语。
(She can speak English, French, and Spanish.)
• 你可以选择红色、蓝色或绿色。
(You can choose red, blue, or green.)
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- ❌ Not used in certain cases:
• Foreign words or numbers in a list: Use commas instead (in English or mixed contexts).
• Fixed expressions or idioms: No 顿号 inside idioms like 风调雨顺 or 国泰民安.