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.

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 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.

Illogical Structure

This is the weird one. In the following usages, 差点 and 差点没 are equivalent. It's almost as if the 没 is meaningless. You can literally drop it with no change in meaning, but only when there is an undesired result after 差点没.

Structure

Subj. + 差点 (+ 没) + Verb Phrase

In this pattern, the "Verb Phrase" part is an undesired result. So in terms of meaning, this structure is identical to the regular 差点 structure.

Again, because you're using 没 here, you don't use 了 after the verb phrase.

Examples

• 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 dìfang tài dà le, wǒ zǒu le hěn jiǔ, chàdiǎnr méi lèi sǐ.This place is so 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 discovered.
• 这里 差点儿 没 变成 一 个 垃圾场。Zhèlǐ chàdiǎnr méi biànchéng yī gè lājī chǎng.This place has almost become 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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