Difference between revisions of "Expressing "a little too" with "you dian""
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| − | At times you may want to politely say something is overwhelming or uncomfortable by saying "a little too." For example, if you are getting lunch with a friend who wants to be seated outside, you might say, "it is a little too hot" to politely suggest you sit inside. In that case, you can use 有点 ( | + | At times you may want to politely say something is overwhelming or uncomfortable by saying "a little too." For example, if you are getting lunch with a friend who wants to be seated outside, you might say, "it is a little too hot" to politely suggest you sit inside. In that case, you can use 有点 (yǒudiǎn) or 有一点 (yǒu yīdiǎn). |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
| − | To say that something is "a little ''too'' ... " or "a bit ''too'' ...", 有一点 ( | + | To say that something is "a little ''too'' ... " or "a bit ''too'' ...", 有一点 (yǒu yīdiǎn) is often used. Its northern Chinese versions is 有一点儿 (yǒu yīdiǎnr). |
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| − | In spoken Chinese, the 一 (yī) in 有一点 ( | + | In spoken Chinese, the 一 (yī) in 有一点 (yǒu yīdiǎn) is often dropped, leaving 有点 (yǒudiǎn). In northern China, that's usually pronounced 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr). |
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| − | * 我 <em> | + | * 我 <em>有一点</em> 饿。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǒu yīdiǎn</em> è. </span> <span class="trans">I'm a little hungry. </span> |
| − | * 这 个 菜 <em> | + | * 这 个 菜 <em>有一点</em> 辣。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge cài <em>yǒu yīdiǎn</em> là. </span> <span class="trans">This dish is a little too spicy. </span> |
| − | * 昨天 <em> | + | * 昨天 <em>有一点</em> 热。 <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <em>yǒu yīdiǎn</em> rè. </span> <span class="trans">Yesterday it was a little too hot. </span> |
| − | * 上海 的 冬天 <em> | + | * 上海 的 冬天 <em>有一点</em> 冷。 <span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi de dōngtiān <em>yǒu yīdiǎn</em> lěng. </span> <span class="trans">Winter in Shanghai is a bit too cold. </span> |
* 我弟弟 <em>有点</em> 胖。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ dìdi <em>yǒudiǎn</em> pàng. </span> <span class="trans">My younger brother is a bit fat. </span> | * 我弟弟 <em>有点</em> 胖。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ dìdi <em>yǒudiǎn</em> pàng. </span> <span class="trans">My younger brother is a bit fat. </span> | ||
* 今天 <em>有点</em> 累。 <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> lèi. </span> <span class="trans">Today I am a little bit tired. </span> | * 今天 <em>有点</em> 累。 <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> lèi. </span> <span class="trans">Today I am a little bit tired. </span> | ||
Revision as of 15:53, 12 March 2016
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Keywords
At times you may want to politely say something is overwhelming or uncomfortable by saying "a little too." For example, if you are getting lunch with a friend who wants to be seated outside, you might say, "it is a little too hot" to politely suggest you sit inside. In that case, you can use 有点 (yǒudiǎn) or 有一点 (yǒu yīdiǎn).
Contents
Structure
To say that something is "a little too ... " or "a bit too ...", 有一点 (yǒu yīdiǎn) is often used. Its northern Chinese versions is 有一点儿 (yǒu yīdiǎnr).
Subj. + 有一点(儿) + Adj.
In spoken Chinese, the 一 (yī) in 有一点 (yǒu yīdiǎn) is often dropped, leaving 有点 (yǒudiǎn). In northern China, that's usually pronounced 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr).
Subj. + 有点(儿) + Adj.
Examples
- 我 有一点 饿。 I'm a little hungry.
- 这 个 菜 有一点 辣。 This dish is a little too spicy.
- 昨天 有一点 热。 Yesterday it was a little too hot.
- 上海 的 冬天 有一点 冷。 Winter in Shanghai is a bit too cold.
- 我弟弟 有点 胖。 My younger brother is a bit fat.
- 今天 有点 累。 Today I am a little bit tired.
- 这 个 月 公司 有点 忙。 This month the company is a little too busy.
- 这 个 地方 有点 吵，我们 走吧。 This place is a little too noisy. Let's go.
- 爸爸 回来 有点 晚 ，妈妈 有点 不高兴。 Dad came back home a bit too late, so mom was a little unhappy.
- 老师 今天 有点 不 舒服，所以 没 来上课。 Today, the teacher felt a little unwell, so she didn't come to class.
Negative Connotation
Note that for someone speaking, the adjective after “有点 (儿) (yǒudiǎn(er))” expresses a passive or negative meaning, so we don't say the expressions “有点高兴 (yǒudiǎn gāoxìng),” “有点舒服 (yǒudiǎn shūfu),” “有点好玩儿 (yǒudiǎn hǎowánr),” etc.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 183-4) →buy
