Difference between revisions of "Expressing "almost" using "chadian mei""
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| − | *我 <em>差点 没</em> 赶 上 火车。 <span class="expl">I almost missed it, but I didn't.</span><span class="trans">I | + | * 我 <em>差点 没</em> 赶 上 火车。 <span class="expl">I almost missed it, but I didn't.</span><span class="trans">I didn't miss the train.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 他 <em>差点 没</em> 通过 考试。<span class="expl">He did pass it. </span><span class="trans">He barely passed the examination. </span> |
| − | + | * 排队 的 人 太 多 了，<em>差点儿 没</em> 买到。<span class="expl">I did get it.</span><span class="trans">The waiting line is too long. I almost didn't get it.</span> | |
| − | + | * 我 <em>差点儿 没</em> 想 起来。<span class="expl">I did remember it. </span><span class="trans">I almost forgot it. </span> | |
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| − | |||
| − | *排队 的 人 太 多 了，<em>差点儿 没</em> 买到。<span class="expl"> | ||
| − | * | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 09:50, 15 March 2017
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Keywords
Logically, 差点没 is not that different from 差点. In fact, you shouldn't think of it as a single word; think of the 没 as belonging to what follows 差点 and it makes more sense. Still, it can be a little confusing, and is worth a closer look.
Contents
Logical Structure
Subj. + 差点 + 没 + Verb Phrase
Note that the "Verb Phrase" part is a desired result. So this structure is literally saying, "almost didn't [Verb Phrase]."
Also note that because you're using 没, you don't use 了 after the verb phrase.
Examples
- 我 差点 没 赶 上 火车。 I almost missed it, but I didn't.I didn't miss the train.
- 他 差点 没 通过 考试。He did pass it. He barely passed the examination.
- 排队 的 人 太 多 了，差点儿 没 买到。I did get it.The waiting line is too long. I almost didn't get it.
- 我 差点儿 没 想 起来。I did remember it. I almost forgot it.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 112) →buy
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 145) →buy
