Difference between revisions of "Expressing "almost" using "chadian""
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== Literal Meaning == | == Literal Meaning == | ||
| − | It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure. The word 差 | + | It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure. The word 差 has a lot of meanings. In this case, it means "to lack," or "to be short." So in Chinese, the way to say "almost" is to say, "lacking that little bit." If that "little bit" hadn't been lacking, it ''would have'' happened. But it ''was'' lacking, so it didn't happen. Technically, it ''almost'' happened. Just remember: The fact is always opposite with the verb phrase after 差点(儿), whether the verb phrase contains "没" or not. |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
Revision as of 10:08, 9 January 2018
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Keywords
To say that something bad almost happened (but didn't), you can add the word 差点 (chàdiǎn) before the verb. You will also hear 差点儿 (chàdiǎnr) in northern China. There is no difference in meaning between 差点 and 差点儿.
Contents
Literal Meaning
It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure. The word 差 has a lot of meanings. In this case, it means "to lack," or "to be short." So in Chinese, the way to say "almost" is to say, "lacking that little bit." If that "little bit" hadn't been lacking, it would have happened. But it was lacking, so it didn't happen. Technically, it almost happened. Just remember: The fact is always opposite with the verb phrase after 差点(儿), whether the verb phrase contains "没" or not.
Structure
Note that the "Verb Phrase" part of the structure is usually something bad or something you don't wish for, and that it didn't happen.
Subj. + 差点(儿) + Predicate
You can put 了 at the end of the sentence for emphasis. In this case, 就 is often used and it's optional.
Subj. + 差点(儿) + (就) + Predicate + 了
The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.
Examples
- 我 差点 忘 了 。I didn't forget.I almost forgot.
- 我 今天 差点儿 迟到 了 。 I wasn't lateI was almost late today.
- 车 差点 撞到 我 。The car didn't hit me.The car almost hit me.
- 他们 差点 打 起来 。They didn't start a fight.They almost started a fight.
- 我们 差点 相信 他 。We didn't believe himWe almost believed him.
- 她 差点 疯 了 。She didn't go crazy.She almost went crazy.
- 他 差点 就 死 了 。He didn't die.He almost died.
- 菜 差点 糊 了 。It wasn't burned.The food was almost burnt.
- 我们 队 差点儿 输 了 。the team didn't loseOur team almost lost.
- 我 差点 就 做到 了 。I didn't did it.I almost did it.
Using 差点 with 没
This can get confusing, even though it's really the same pattern (and same logic) with a little added complexity. This pattern goes beyond the difficulty level of the needs of the B1 learner, so to learn more about this usage, see expressing "almost" using "chadian mei".
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 112) [ →buy]
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 341) [ →buy]
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 145) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
