‘据点’ (jù diǎn) literally combines 据 (jù), meaning 'to occupy' or 'to hold', and 点 (diǎn), meaning 'point' or 'spot'. Together, it refers to a strategically occupied location—typically a military base, operational hub, or fortified position used for control, defense, or launching activities. Historically, it often appears in contexts of warfare, resistance, or territorial control, such as enemy strongholds during wartime.

In modern usage, ‘据点’ extends metaphorically to any central, influential location serving a specific function—e.g., a company’s regional office, a research team’s field station, or even a popular café that serves as a regular meeting spot for a social group. While neutral in grammar, it carries connotations of purposeful occupation and functional centrality—not just any location, but one actively used as an operational anchor. It is more formal and evocative than generic terms like ‘地方’ (dìfāng, ‘place’) or ‘地点’ (dìdiǎn, ‘location’).