Difference between revisions of "Expressing "a bit too""
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了一点儿 (le yīdiǎnr), can be added after an adjective to mean "a little bit too." It is softer in tone than [[Expressing "excessively" with tai|using 太]], and so is often used when the speaker doesn't want to insult the listener by speaking too directly.
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了一点儿 (le yīdiǎnr), can be added after an adjective to mean "just a little bit too...." It is softer in tone than [[Expressing "excessively" with tai|using 太]], and so is often used when the speaker doesn't want to insult the listener by criticizing too bluntly.
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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*这 条 牛仔裤 好像 <strong>短</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> 。<span class="trans">This jeans seems a little short for me.</span>
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*这 条 牛仔裤 好像 <strong>短</strong> <em>了 点儿</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè tiáo niúzǎikù hǎoxiàng <strong>duǎn</strong> <em>le diǎnr</em>.</span><span class="trans">This pair of jeans seems a little short for me.</span>
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*那个 地方 离 我 家 <strong>远</strong> <em>了 一点儿</em>。<span class="trans">That place is a little too far away from my place.</span>
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*那个 地方 离 我 家 <strong>远</strong> <em>了 一点儿</em>。<span class="pinyin">Nàge dìfang lí wǒ jiā <strong>yuǎn</strong> </em>le yīdiǎnr</em>.</span><span class="trans">That place is a little too far from my home.</span>
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*这 件 衬衫 <strong>小</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ，我 想 换 一 件。<span class="trans">This shirt is a little small. I need another one.</span>
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*这 件 衬衫 <strong>小</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ，我 想 换 一 件。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn chènshān <strong>xiǎo</strong> <em>le diǎnr</em>, wǒ xiǎng huàn yī jiàn.</span><span class="trans">This shirt is a little small. I want to exchange it for another one.</span>
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*他 给 的 这个 红包 好像 <strong>少</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> 。<span class="trans">The money he gave in the red packet seems too little.</span>
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*他 给 的 这个 红包 好像 <strong>少</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā gěi de zhège hóngbāo hǎoxiàng <strong>shǎo</strong> <em>le diǎnr</em>.</span><span class="trans">The amount of money he gave in the red envelope seems a bit small.</span>
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*你 管 得 是 不 是 <strong>多</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ？<span class="trans">Don't you care too much?</span>
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*你 管 得 是 不 是 <strong>多</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ guǎn de shì bu shì <strong>duō</strong> <em>le diǎnr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Don't you think you're getting a little too involved?</span>
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*现在 说 “对不起” 是 不 是 <strong>晚</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ？<span class="trans">Isn't it a little too late to say sorry just now?</span>
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*现在 说 “对不起” 是 不 是 <strong>晚</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài shuō “duìbùqǐ” shì bu shì <strong>wǎn</strong> <em>le diǎnr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Isn't it a little too late to say sorry now?</span>
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*私立 学校 是 <strong>贵</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ，不过 老师 很 优秀 。<span class="trans">Private schools are a little expensive, but their teachers are excellent.</span>
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*私立 学校 是 <strong>贵</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ，不过 老师 很 优秀 。<span class="pinyin">Sīlì xuéxiào shì <strong>guì</strong> <em>le diǎnr</em>, bùguò lǎoshī hěn yōuxiù.</span><span class="trans">Private schools are a little expensive, but the teachers are excellent.</span>
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*你 这么 高 ，你 这个 男朋友 是 不 是 <strong>矮</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ？<span class="trans">You are so tall. Isn't your boyfriend a little short for you?</span>
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*你 这么 高 ，你 这个 男朋友 是 不 是 <strong>矮</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhème gāo, nǐ zhège nánpéngyou shì bu shì <strong>ǎi</strong> <em>le diǎnr</em>?</span><span class="trans">You are so tall. Isn't your boyfriend a little short for you?</span>
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*这 道 菜 <strong>咸</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ，可以 换 一 盘 吗？<span class="trans">This dish is a little too salty, could you have another one again?</span>
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*这 道 菜 <strong>咸</strong> <em>了 点儿</em> ，可以 换 一 盘 吗？<span class="pinyin">Zhè dào cài <strong>xián</strong> <em>le diǎnr</em>, kěyǐ huàn yī pán ma?</span><span class="trans">This dish is a little too salty, could you make another one?</span>
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*对 五 岁 的 孩子 来说 ，这 个 问题<strong>复杂</strong> <em>了 一点儿</em> 。<span class="trans">This question is a bit complicated for a five-year-old kid.</span>
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*对 五 岁 的 孩子 来说 ，这 个 问题 稍微 <strong>复杂</strong> <em>了 一点儿</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Duì wǔ suì de háizi lái shuō, zhège wèntí shāowēi <strong>fùzá</strong> <em>le yīdiǎnr</em>.</span><span class="trans">This question is just a bit complicated for a five-year-old child.</span>
  
 
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</div>
  
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As in the first two examples, 稍微 is often added before the adjective to further soften the tone.
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稍微 (shāowēi) can also be added before the adjective to further soften the tone.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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== Sources  and further reading ==
 
== Sources  and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 6- 8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|6- 8}}
  
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]

Latest revision as of 06:55, 11 December 2020

了一点儿 (le yīdiǎnr), can be added after an adjective to mean "just a little bit too...." It is softer in tone than using 太, and so is often used when the speaker doesn't want to insult the listener by criticizing too bluntly.

Structure

In this structure, the overall effect of the pattern depends on the preceding adjective. If the adjective in the structure has a negative meaning, then it is used to show the speaker’s dissatisfaction (a sort of complaint). If the adjective in the structure has a positive meaning, then it usually reflects a change.

Adj. + 了（一）点儿

Examples

  • 这 条 牛仔裤 好像 短 了 点儿。Zhè tiáo niúzǎikù hǎoxiàng duǎn le diǎnr.This pair of jeans seems a little short for me.
  • 那个 地方 离 我 家 远 了 一点儿。Nàge dìfang lí wǒ jiā yuǎn le yīdiǎnr.That place is a little too far from my home.
  • 这 件 衬衫 小 了 点儿 ，我 想 换 一 件。Zhè jiàn chènshān xiǎo le diǎnr, wǒ xiǎng huàn yī jiàn.This shirt is a little small. I want to exchange it for another one.
  • 他 给 的 这个 红包 好像 少 了 点儿 。Tā gěi de zhège hóngbāo hǎoxiàng shǎo le diǎnr.The amount of money he gave in the red envelope seems a bit small.
  • 你 管 得 是 不 是 多 了 点儿 ？Nǐ guǎn de shì bu shì duō le diǎnr?Don't you think you're getting a little too involved?
  • 现在 说 “对不起” 是 不 是 晚 了 点儿 ？Xiànzài shuō “duìbùqǐ” shì bu shì wǎn le diǎnr?Isn't it a little too late to say sorry now?
  • 私立 学校 是 贵 了 点儿 ，不过 老师 很 优秀 。Sīlì xuéxiào shì guì le diǎnr, bùguò lǎoshī hěn yōuxiù.Private schools are a little expensive, but the teachers are excellent.
  • 你 这么 高 ，你 这个 男朋友 是 不 是 矮 了 点儿 ？Nǐ zhème gāo, nǐ zhège nánpéngyou shì bu shì ǎi le diǎnr?You are so tall. Isn't your boyfriend a little short for you?
  • 这 道 菜 咸 了 点儿 ，可以 换 一 盘 吗？Zhè dào cài xián le diǎnr, kěyǐ huàn yī pán ma?This dish is a little too salty, could you make another one?
  • 对 五 岁 的 孩子 来说 ，这 个 问题 稍微 复杂 了 一点儿 。Duì wǔ suì de háizi lái shuō, zhège wèntí shāowēi fùzá le yīdiǎnr.This question is just a bit complicated for a five-year-old child.

稍微 (shāowēi) can also be added before the adjective to further soften the tone.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5
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