How to say "point" in Japanese

• 先さきJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounCovers 'point' as the sharp or foremost end of a physical thing — the point of a pencil, needle, or pen. Think 'tip' rather than the abstract senses of 'point'.
  鉛筆えんぴつの先さきが丸まるくなった。↗

  The point of the pencil has become dull.
• ポイントJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe word for the figurative 'point' of a story, talk, or argument — what someone is really getting at, the key point. Use this when 'point' means the important part, not a place or tip.
  彼かれはポイントを生徒せいとに充分じゅうぶんわからせた。↗

  He drove a point home to his pupils.
• 点てんJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounHere 'point' means a dot or small mark, or a position treated as a spot — a point on a map or a graph. It does not cover the point of an argument.
  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.
• 向けるむけるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThis is the verb 'to point': to turn or aim something toward a target, as in pointing a camera or a weapon at someone. Use it for the action, not the noun 'point'.
  強盗ごうとうは店員てんいんに銃じゅうを向むけた。↗

  The robber aimed his gun at the clerk.
• 箇所かしょJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounCovers 'point' in the sense of a place or passage — a specific point in a text, document, or list, as in 'the point in question'. It counts discrete spots rather than abstract ideas.
  この湖みずうみはこの箇所かしょが一番いちばん深ぶかい。↗

  The lake is deepest at this point.

Choose 先 for a physical tip or end, 「ポイント」 for the point of an argument or story, 点 for a dot or mark, 「向ける」 to point something at something, and 箇所 for a point in a text.

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

• 先さきpoint
• ポイントpoint (of a story, argument, etc.)
• 点てんdot
• 向けるむけるto turn (towards)
• 箇所かしょplace
• 端はしend (e.g. of street)
• 先端せんたんpointed end
• 地点ちてんspot
• 要領ようりょうpoint
• 一点いってんpoint
• ドットdot
• 趣旨しゅしmeaning
• いっかくcorner
• 突きつけるつきつけるto thrust (at someone)
• 核心かくしんcore
• 指すさすto point
• 一理いちり(a) principle
• ちょぼdot
• 先っぽさきっぽtip
• ぽつdot
• 先っちょさきっちょend
• 尖りとがりpoint
• 切っ先きっさきpoint (of a sword, etc.)
• つかみ所つかみどころpoint (of a question, story, etc.)
• 差し付けるさしつけるto point (gun at)
• 一籌いっちゅう(a) point
• ポpoint (unit of type measurement)
• 突端とったんtip of a headland
• とらえどころkey to understanding
• 正鵠せいこくbull's-eye
• 字号じごうtype size
• 尖頭せんとうpointed end
• 尖頭器せんとうきprojectile point
• ぽちdot
• 箇条かじょうitem
• とりとめcoherence
• 趣意しゅいopinion
• 要旨ようし(main) point
• とんがり(sharp) point
• 向くむくto point (of an arrow, compass needle, etc.)
• 単位たんいcredit (in school, university, etc.)
• 穂ほpoint (of a brush, spear, etc.)
• ピントpoint (of a discussion, e.g. on-point, off-point)
• 的まとpoint (e.g. of argument)
• おおむねgist
• 穂先ほさきtip (of a brush, spear, etc.)
• 欛柄はへいpoint (of a conversation, etc.)
• ところpoint
• めpoint (e.g. of change)
• 星ほしpoint