‘圈点’ (quān diǎn) is a verb meaning to annotate or mark up a text by circling key words or phrases and adding dots or other small marks—traditionally done with a brush or pen while studying classical Chinese texts. The character 圈 (quān) means 'circle' or 'to circle', and 点 (diǎn) means 'dot' or 'to dot'; together, they describe the physical act of highlighting important elements visually. This practice signals emphasis, approval, or critical attention.

Today, ‘圈点’ is used both literally (e.g., teachers marking students’ essays) and figuratively (e.g., praising someone’s achievement as worthy of ‘circles and dots’). It appears frequently in academic, editorial, and educational contexts—and occasionally in digital interfaces (e.g., annotation tools labeled ‘圈点功能’). Unlike casual underlining, 圈点 carries a connotation of careful, scholarly engagement with the material.