Expressing "almost" using "chadian mei"

Logically, 差点没 (chàdiǎn méi) is just a simple extension of 差点, adding the negation after it. 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 for many learners, and is worth a closer look.

Logical Structure

Obviously, 差点 and 差点儿 are equivalent here.

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 recall it.Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi xiǎng qǐlái.I almost couldn't recall it.
• 我 差点 没 赶 上 火车。 I almost missed it, but I didn't.Wǒ chàdiǎn méi gǎnshàng huǒchē.I almost missed the train.
• 他 差点 没 通过 考试。He did pass it, but almost didn't.Tā chàdiǎn méi tōngguò kǎoshì.He barely passed the examination.
• 我 差点儿 没 拿到 签证。Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi nádào qiānzhèng.I almost didn't get the visa.
• 排队 的 人 太 多 了，差点儿 没 买到。I did get it.Páiduì de rén tài duō le, chàdiǎnr méi mǎidào.The waiting line is too long. I almost didn't get it.
• 他们 两个 差点儿 没 通过 面试 。Tāmen liǎng gè chàdiǎnr méi tōngguò miànshì.The two of them almost didn't pass the interview.

• 我 差点儿 没 和 她 撞 在 一起。Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi hé tā zhuàng zài yīqǐ.I almost ran into her.
• 这个 地方 太 大 了，我 走 了 很 久，差点儿 没 累 死。Zhège dìfāng tài dàle, wǒ zǒu le hěnjiǔ, chàdiǎnr méi lèi sǐ.This place is too big, I walked for so long I almost died from exhaustion.
• 我 差点儿 没被 发现。Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi bèi fāxiàn.I was almost detected.
• 这里 差点儿 没 变成 一 个 垃圾场。Zhèlǐ chàdiǎnr méi biàn chéng yīgè lèsè chǎng.This place became like a dump.

See also

• Expressing "almost" using "chadian"

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

Websites

• http://wenku.baidu.com/view/129e1b0f7cd184254b35358f.html

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