The word 观点 is formed by conceptually combining two characters: 观 (guān), meaning "to look at" or "to observe", and 点 (diǎn), meaning "point" or "dot". It creates a metaphorical image of the specific, pinpoint place from which one observes something, thus naturally arriving at the meaning of "viewpoint" or "perspective". It is a direct figurative synthesis, where the visual act of seeing is fused with the notion of a precise location to produce an abstract idea of a mental position or opinion.