The emphasis mark,[1][2][3]emphasis dot,[4]kenten[5] (圏点[6][7]) or boten[5] (傍点[6], bōten) is a typographic mark used in some East Asian languages to indicate emphasis. The markings can take many forms, such as dots or bullets, circles, or triangles. They were more commonly used historically, but with the rise of modern technology, it is now common to use quotation marks or change the font style.[1]
Chinese
An example of emphasis mark used in traditional vertical style writing.
An example of emphasis mark used in traditional horizontal style writing.
事業是幹出來的，不是吹出來的。
看來，他彷佛用一千隻眼睛瞧著。
In China and Hong Kong, the emphasis mark (Chinese:着重号) is used in textbooks and teaching materials. It is centred under each character highlighted in the horizontal texts, and centred to the right of each character in the vertical texts.
Japanese
ここを強調
In Japan, the emphasis mark (傍点bōten or 圏点kenten) is usually a dot or a sesame dot and is centred above each character in the horizontal texts and to the right of each character in the vertical texts.
It is not unusual for kenten and ruby to concur on the same side of the main text (usually above or to the right).
Korean
In South Korea, the emphasis mark (드러냄표deureonaempyo) usually rules as a dot or circle centred above the characters in the horizontal texts and to the right of the characters in the vertical texts.
In Vietnam, the emphasis mark (dấu nhấn mạnh[citation needed]) was written with various marks such as a dot, circle, or a sesame dot. It is commonly positioned to the right of the character. After Vietnam switched to the Latin alphabet, emphasis marks fell into disuse as bolding, underlining, and italics replaced the usage of emphasis marks.
定𫜵科次固𱺵𡗶空 Định làm khoa thứ có là trời không
Emphasis marks used to mark words in the Vietnamese book, Âm chất giải âm 隂騭解音.
Characters
Apart from any single character, the following characters are used as emphasis marks in some implementations.[2]
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