零点 literally means 'zero point' and most commonly refers to midnight — the exact moment when the clock strikes 12:00 a.m., marking the start of a new day. The character 零 (líng) means 'zero' or 'nothing', while 点 (diǎn) means 'point' or 'o'clock'. Together, they form a time expression used in formal schedules, news reports, scientific contexts, and daily conversation to indicate precise timing at the hour of zero.

This term is neutral in register and widely understood across all Chinese-speaking regions. It’s especially common in announcements (e.g., train departures, policy implementations), weather forecasts, and digital interfaces where accuracy matters. Unlike colloquial terms like 十二点 (shí'èr diǎn), 零点 emphasizes precision and often implies a boundary or turning point — for example, a deadline or the beginning of an event. It can also appear metaphorically in technical or abstract contexts (e.g., 'zero point energy'), though its primary usage remains temporal.