Usage note
点名是老师在上课前或放学时，叫出学生的名字。
diǎnmíng shì lǎoshī zài kāoshàng qián huò sàn xuéshēng de míngzi.
Pointing names is when teachers call out students' names before class or at the end of school.
Context note
点名通常在课堂开始或放学时进行，以确保所有学生都在场。
diǎnmíng tōngcháng zài kāoshàng kāishǐ huò sàn xuéshēng dàishēnɡ.
Roll call is usually done at the beginning of class or when school ends to make sure all students are present.
5 examples
老师点名了。
lǎo shī diǎn míng le。
The teacher took attendance.
同学们互相点名。
tóng xué men hù xiāng diǎn míng。
Students called out each other's names.
老师每天早上点名。
lǎo shī měi tiān zǎo shàng diǎn míng。
The teacher takes attendance every morning.
放学前，老师会点名。
fàng xué qián， lǎo shī huì diǎn míng。
Before school ends, the teacher will take roll call.
点名时，要大声回答。
diǎn míng shí， yào dà shēng huí dá。
When taking attendance, answer loudly.
5 mini stories
老师每天早上来学校后，先点名。然后开始上课。
lǎo shī měi tiān zǎo shàng lái xué xiào hòu， xiān diǎn míng。 rán hòu kāi shǐ shàng kè。
Every morning after arriving at school, the teacher takes roll call first and then starts class.
放学前，老师会点名。如果有人缺席，他会打电话通知家长。
fàng xué qián， lǎo shī huì diǎn míng。 rú guǒ yǒu rén quē xí， tā huì dǎ diàn huà tōng zhī jiā zhǎng。
Before school ends, the teacher takes roll call. If anyone is absent, he will call parents to inform them.
点名时，同学们要认真听老师叫名字。
diǎn míng shí， tóng xué men yào rèn zhēn tīng lǎo shī jiào míng zì。
When taking attendance, students should listen carefully to the teacher's names.
点名时，老师会叫出所有学生的名字。
diǎn míng shí， lǎo shī huì jiào chū suǒ yǒu xué shēng de míng zì。
During roll call, the teacher will call out all students' names.
点名时，不要说话或走动。
diǎn míng shí， bú yào shuō huà huò zǒu dòng。
Do not talk or move during roll call.
Mini dialogue
老师点名
A
老师开始点名了吗？
Lǎoshī kāishǐ diǎnmíng le ma?
Has the teacher started calling the roll?
B
对，刚刚点到你的名字了。
Duì, gānggāng diǎn dào nǐ de míngzì le.
Yes, your name was just called.
快点进教室
A
快进教室吧，马上要点名了。
Kuài jìn jiàoshì ba, mǎshàng yào diǎnmíng le.
Hurry into the classroom, the roll will be called soon.
B
好的，我不想被记迟到。
Hǎo de, wǒ bù xiǎng bèi jì chídào.
Okay, I don't want to be marked late.
Related words and contrasts
similar
报到
bàodào
to report for duty / check in
点名 is calling names from a list; 报到 is when you announce you are present.
related
举手
jǔshǒu
raise hand
During 点名, students often 举手 or say '到' to answer.