How to say "dot" in Japanese

• 点てんJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a dot: a small round mark, point, or speck. For an ordinary dot — a mark on paper, a point in a diagram — this is the word you want.
  どんな小ちいさな点てんでも見みることができる。↗

  I can see the tiniest spot.
• スポットCommon
  nounIts core sense is 'spot' — a place, or a small mark or patch — with 'dot' only a secondary gloss. It is seldom the word you want for a dot proper; 点 covers that.
• ドットCommon
  nounThe direct borrowing of English 'dot,' used in much the same range of ways as the English word, especially in technical and design talk. A safe choice when 'dot' itself would fit.
• 一点いってんCommon
  nounA single dot, point, or speck: it specifies one lone point rather than dots in general. Use it when you mean just one tiny dot or speck, not dots as a kind of mark.

Use 点 for a dot or small mark in general, 「ドット」 where English 'dot' itself would be used, especially technical contexts, 「スポット」 mainly for 'spot' rather than dot, and 一点 for a single, lone dot.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 点てんdot
• スポットspot
• ドットdot
• 一点いってんpoint
• ちょぼdot
• トンdot (in Morse code)
• ぽつdot
• 付点ふてんdot (on a note or rest)
• ぽちdot
• 短点たんてんdot (in Morse code)
• めdot (on a dice)
• 星ほしdot
• ちょんdot (esp. typographical)