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="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn méi</em> gǎnshàng huǒchē.</span><span class="trans">I didn't miss the train.</span> | * 我 <em>差点 没</em> 赶 上 火车。 <span class="expl">I almost missed it, but I didn't.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn méi</em> gǎnshàng huǒchē.</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="pinyin">Tā <em>chàdiǎn méi</em> tōngguò kǎoshì.</span><span class="trans">He barely passed the examination.</span> | * 他 <em>差点 没</em> 通过 考试。<span class="expl">He did pass it.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>chàdiǎn méi</em> tōngguò kǎoshì.</span><span class="trans">He barely passed the examination.</span> | ||
− | * 我 <em>差点儿 没</em> 买到 火车票。 | + | * 我 <em>差点儿 没</em> 买到 火车票。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn er méi</em> mǎi dào huǒchē piào.</span><span class="trans">I almost didn't get a train ticket.</span> |
− | * 他们 两个 <em>差点儿 没</em> 打 起来。 | + | * 他们 两个 <em>差点儿 没</em> 打 起来。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen liǎng gè <em>chàdiǎn er méi</em> dǎ qǐlái.</span><span class="trans">The two of them almost did not fight.</span> |
− | * 我 <em>差点儿 没</em> 和 她 撞 在 一起。 | + | * 我 <em>差点儿 没</em> 和 她 撞 在 一起。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn er méi</em> hé tā zhuàng zài yīqǐ.</span><span class="trans">I almost didn't run into her.</span> |
− | * 这个 地方 太 大 了,我 走 了 很 久,<em>差点儿 没</em> 累 死。 | + | * 这个 地方 太 大 了,我 走 了 很 久,<em>差点儿 没</em> 累 死。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfāng tài dàle, wǒ zǒule hěnjiǔ, chàdiǎn er méi lèi sǐ.</span><span class="trans">This place is too big, I walked for so long I almost died from exhaustion.</span> |
− | * 我 <em>差点儿 没</em>被 发现。 | + | * 我 <em>差点儿 没</em>被 发现。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn er méi</em> bèi fāxiàn.</span><span class="trans">I was almost detected.</span> |
− | * 这里 <em>差点儿 没</em> 变成 一 个 垃圾场。 | + | * 这里 <em>差点儿 没</em> 变成 一 个 垃圾场。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ <em>chàdiǎn er méi</em> biàn chéng yīgè lèsè chǎng.</span><span class="trans">This place became like a dump.</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="pinyin">Páiduì de rén tài duō le, <em>chàdiǎnr méi</em> mǎidào.</span><span class="trans">The waiting line is too long. I almost didn't get it.</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="pinyin">Páiduì de rén tài duō le, <em>chàdiǎnr méi</em> mǎidào.</span><span class="trans">The waiting line is too long. I almost didn't get it.</span> | ||
Revision as of 23:12, 4 June 2020
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Used for
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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 差点儿 没 想 起来。I did remember it. I almost forgot it.
- 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.
- 我 差点儿 没 买到 火车票。I almost didn't get a train ticket.
- 他们 两个 差点儿 没 打 起来。The two of them almost did not fight.
- 我 差点儿 没 和 她 撞 在 一起。I almost didn't run into her.
- 这个 地方 太 大 了,我 走 了 很 久,差点儿 没 累 死。This place is too big, I walked for so long I almost died from exhaustion.
- 我 差点儿 没被 发现。I was almost detected.
- 这里 差点儿 没 变成 一 个 垃圾场。This place became like a dump.
- 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.
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