要点|ようてんyouten[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. noungist; main point
   彼かれはその要点ようてんを理解りかいさせようとした。↗

   He tried to make his point.

• Synonym趣旨しゅしWrittenWritten word for the aim or intent behind a speech or event, as in 「会の趣旨を説明する」; it stresses purpose, while 「要点」 points to the important spots themselves.
• Synonym要領ようりょうNeutralMeans the main points, but also the knack of handling things well (「要領がいい」); in everyday speech the knack sense is the more common one.
• Synonym要旨ようしWrittenWritten word for the gist of a piece of writing or a speech (「論文の要旨」); often used for abstracts and summaries.
• Synonym骨子こっしWrittenWritten word for the skeleton of a plan or bill (「法案の骨子」); typical of policy documents.
• Synonym核心かくしんNeutralThe core or heart of a problem (「核心に迫る」); stresses the single most central point rather than several key spots.
• Synonym眼目がんもくWrittenRare written word for the main point or chief purpose (「改革の眼目」).
• SynonymポイントNeutralLoanword for the key point (「ポイントを押さえる」), also used for scores and locations; the most common choice in speech.
• SynonymエッセンスNeutralLoanword for the essence or quintessence; also a flavoring extract, as in 「バニラエッセンス」.
• Synonym核かくNeutralThe core (「チームの核」), also a fruit pit and nuclear weapons.
• Synonym要項ようこうNeutralThe required items for applications or recruitment (「募集要項」); typical of official announcements.
• SynonymかなめNeutralThe point or essence, mostly in fixed phrases like 「要は」; common in speech too.
• Synonym要義ようぎWrittenRare written word for the essential meaning or significance of something.
• Synonym大意たいいNeutralThe gist of a text as a whole (「文章の大意をつかむ」); stresses an overall grasp rather than picking out key spots.
• Synonym大要たいようWrittenRare written word for an outline or summary of the whole.
• Related本質ほんしつNeutralThe essence or true nature of a thing (「問題の本質」); stresses fundamental attributes rather than key points.
• Related中核ちゅうかくWrittenThe central core of an organization or thing (「中核を担う」); used especially of organizations.
• Related主意しゅいWrittenRare written word for the main meaning or point of a statement.
• Related要ようNeutralThe point or essence, mostly in fixed phrases like 「要は」; common in speech too.
• Antonym細部さいぶNeutralDetails and particulars; the direct opposite of 「要点」.
• Antonym枝葉えだはWrittenWritten word for minor details (「枝葉末節」), set against the trunk that 「要点」 names.

Use 「要点」 for the key points of anything. In speech, 「ポイント」 is the everyday word. For the gist of a text pick 「要旨」 or 「大意」, for the aim of an event 「趣旨」, for the heart of a problem 「核心」 or 「本質」, for the skeleton of a plan or bill 「骨子」, and for required items in announcements 「要項」. The opposite is 「細部」.

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

1. 大事だいじな箇所かしょ。