Difference between revisions of "Approximations with "chabuduo""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
差不多 (chàbùduō), translated literally, means "the difference is not much." Essentially what it means in Chinese is "more or less," and is useful for expressing rough approximations. It can be used as an [[adjective]] or an [[adverb]].
+
差不多 (chàbuduō), translated literally, means "the difference is not much." In practice it means something like "more or less," and is useful for expressing rough approximations.
  
== "差不多" as an Adjective ==
+
== 差不多 (chàbuduō) as a Predicate ==
  
=== Simple Structure ===
+
As a [[predicate]], 差不多 can be used pretty much all by itself to complete a sentence after you tell us what subject we're talking about. When several things are 差不多 (chàbuduō), it means they are "more or less ''the same''." So actually 差不多 (chàbuduō) is often understood to mean 差不多一样 (chàbuduō yīyàng), but you don't say the 一样 (yīyàng) part. You just say 差不多 (chàbuduō).
  
When several things are 差不多 (chàbùduō), it means they are "more or less ''the same''." (The part that means "the same" is understood in Chinese.)
+
=== Simple Subject ===
 +
 
 +
Let's first assume that the subject is an easily understood group of people or things.
  
 
==== Structure ====
 
==== Structure ====
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subj. + 差不多  
+
Subj. + 差不多  
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
You might also add a [[都]] (dōu) in before 差不多 (chàbuduō) if there are more than two things being compared.
  
 
==== Examples ====
 
==== Examples ====
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 这 几 个 地方 都 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jǐ gè dìfāng dōu <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">These places are all pretty much the same.</span>
+
* 这 几 个 地方 都 <em>差不多</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jǐ gè dìfang dōu <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">These places are all pretty much the same.</span>
* 这 两 个 词 的 意思 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng gè cí de yìsi <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">These two words' meanings are more or less the same.</span>
+
* 这 两 个 词 的 意思 <em>差不多</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng gè cí de yìsi <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">The meanings of these two words are pretty much the same.</span>
* 我们 的 想法 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de xiǎngfǎ <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Our ways of thinking are pretty much the same.</span>
+
* 我们 的 想法 <em>差不多</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de xiǎngfǎ <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Our ways of thinking are pretty much the same.</span>
* 两 家 餐厅 的 菜 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng jiā cāntīng de cài dōu <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">These two restaurants' dishes are all more or less the same.</span>
+
* 两 家 餐厅 的 菜 <em>差不多</em> 。<span class="pinyin">liǎng jiā cāntīng de cài <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Those two restaurants' dishes are almost the same.</span>
* 我们 的 中文 水平 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de Zhōngwén shuǐpíng <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Our levels of Chinese are more or less the same.</span>
+
* 你们 的 中文 水平 <em>差不多</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen de Zhōngwén shuǐpíng <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your Chinese levels are almost the same.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==== Structure ====
+
=== Several Subjects ===
 
 
Another often used structure is:
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
  
A 跟/和  B + 差不多
+
Let's add in a few different subjects now, using the Chinese word for "[[and]]."
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
==== Examples ====
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
* 上海 <em>和</em> 纽约 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>hé</em> Niǔyuē <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Shanghai and New York are basically the same.</span>
 
* Starbucks <em>和</em> Costa <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Starbucks <em>hé</em> Costa <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Starbucks and Coster are almost the same.</span>
 
* 他 的 衣服 <em>跟</em> 老师 的 衣服 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Tā de yīfu <em>gēn</em> lǎoshī de yīfu <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">His clothes and the teacher's clothes are more or less the same.</span>
 
* 你 的 工作 <em>跟</em> 我 的 工作 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ de gōngzuò <em>gēn</em> wǒ de gōngzuò <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your job and my job are more or less the same.</span>
 
* 这 里 的 天气 <em>跟</em> 北京 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè lǐ de tiānqì <em>gēn</em> Běijīng <em>chàbùduō</em>.</span><span class="trans"> The weather here is pretty much like Beijing.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Antonym "差很多" ===
 
 
 
When 差不多 (chàbùduō) is an adjective, it literally means "the difference is not much." The opposite, then would be 差很多 (chà hěn duō), which literally means "the difference is very great."  Less literally, if 差不多 (chàbùduō) means "more or less the same," then 差很多 (chà hěn duō) means "not the same at all."
 
  
 
==== Structure ====
 
==== Structure ====
  
This first pattern tells you the two are ''not'' roughly equal, but it is not always clear which is better or which is worse.  Sometimes it just means they are "very different."
+
Another often used structure is:
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subj.  + 差 很 多
 
 
 
</div>
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
A 跟/和  B + 差 很 多
+
A + 跟 / 和 + B + 差不多
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>和</em> 我男朋友 的 年龄 <em>差 很 多</em> 。<span class="pinyin"> <em>hé</em> wǒ nánpéngyou de niánlíng<em> chà hěn duō</em>.</span><span class="trans">There is a big difference between my age and my boyfriend's age.</span>
+
* 上海 <em>和</em> 纽约 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>hé</em> Niǔyuē <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Shanghai and New York are basically the same.</span>
* 中国 文化 <em>和</em> 西方 文化 <em>差 很 多</em> 。<span class="pinyin"> Zhōngguó wénhuà <em>hé</em> xīfāngwénhuà <em>chà hěn duō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Chinese culture and western culture are quite different.</span>
+
* Starbucks <em>和</em> Costa <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Starbucks <em>hé</em> Costa <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Starbucks and Costa are almost the same.</span>
* 收入  <em>跟</em> 我老板 收入 <em>差 很 多</em> 。<span class="pinyin">de shōurù <em>gēn</em> wǒlǎobǎn de shōurù <em>chà hěn duō</em>.</span><span class="trans">There is a huge difference between my income and my boss'.</span>
+
* 这里 天气 <em>跟</em> 台湾 天气 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Zhèlǐ de tiānqì <em>gēn</em> Táiwān de tiānqì <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">The weather here is pretty much like Taiwan's.</span>
* 这 两 家 店 的 东西 价格 <em>差 很 多</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng jiā diàn de dōngxi jiàgé <em>chà hěn duō</em>.</span><span class="trans">There is a big difference in price between these two shops.</span>
+
* 你的 工作 <em>跟</em> 我的 工作 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ de gōngzuò <em>gēn</em> wǒ de gōngzuò <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your job and my job are almost the same.</span>
* 这 两 个 词 的 意思 差不多,但是 用法 <em>差 很 多</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng gè cí de yìsi chàbùduō, dànshì yòngfǎ <em>chà hěn duō</em>.</span><span class="trans">The meanings of these two words are basically the same, but their usages are very different.</span>
+
* 你的 新 手机 <em>跟</em> 我的 旧 手机 <em>差不多</em>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de xīn shǒujī <em>gēn</em> wǒ de jiù shǒujī <em>chàbuduō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your new cell phone is pretty much like my old cell phone.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== "差不多" as an adverb ==
+
== 差不多 (chàbuduō) as an Adverb ==
  
When using 差不多 (chàbùduō) as an adverb, place it before the adjective or verb.
+
When using 差不多 (chàbuduō) as an adverb, place it before the adjective or verb.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
差不多 + Adj./Verb
+
差不多 + Adj. / Verb
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*这 两 个 孩子 <em>差不多</em> 大。<span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng gè háizi <em>chàbùduō</em> dà.</span><span class="trans">These two children are more or less the same age.</span>
+
*这 两 个 孩子 <em>差不多</em> 大。<span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng gè háizi <em>chàbuduō</em> dà.</span><span class="trans">These two children are more or less the same age.</span>
* 我 <em>跟</em> 我哥哥 <em>差不多</em> 高。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gēn</em> wǒ gēge <em>chàbùduō</em> gāo.</span><span class="trans">My elder brother and I are more or less the same height.</span>
+
*我 <em>跟</em> 我哥哥 <em>差不多</em> 高。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gēn</em> wǒ gēge <em>chàbuduō</em> gāo.</span><span class="trans">My older brother and I are more or less the same height.</span>
*我 <em>差不多</em> 到 公园 门口 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàbùduō</em> dào gōngyuán ménkǒu le.</span><span class="trans">I'm almost at the entrance of the park.</span>
+
*我 <em>差不多</em> 到 公园 门口 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàbuduō</em> dào gōngyuán ménkǒu le.</span><span class="trans">I'm almost at the entrance of the park.</span>
* 电影 <em>差不多</em> 要 开始 了。<span class="pinyin">Diànyǐng <em>chàbùduō</em> yào kāishǐ le.</span><span class="trans">The movie is almost about to start.</span>
+
*电影 <em>差不多</em> 要 开始 了。<span class="pinyin">Diànyǐng <em>chàbuduō</em> yào kāishǐ le.</span><span class="trans">The movie is almost about to start.</span>
* 今天 的 工作 <em>差不多</em> 做 完 了。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān de gōngzuò <em>chàbùduō</em> zuò wán le.</span><span class="trans">Today‘s work is almost over.</span>
+
*今天 的 工作 <em>差不多</em> 做 完 了。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān de gōngzuò <em>chàbuduō</em> zuò wán le.</span><span class="trans">Today's work is almost done.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== “差不多" with a quantity or time phrase ==
+
== 差不多 (chàbuduō) with a Quantity or Time Phrase ==
  
After 差不多 (chàbùduō) you can also add a phrase that expresses quantity or time. This makes it clear that you're giving a rough estimate.
+
After 差不多 (chàbuduō) you can also add a phrase that expresses quantity or time. This makes it clear that you're giving a rough estimate.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
差不多 + [Quantity Phrase] / [Time Phrase]
差不多 +[quantity phrase] / [time phrase]
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*你 儿子 <em>差不多</em> 五 岁 了 吧?<span class="pinyin">Nǐérzi <em>chàbùduō</em> wǔ suì le ba?</span><span class="trans">Your son should be about 5 years old now, right?</span>
+
*你 儿子 <em>差不多</em> 五 岁 了 吧?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ érzi <em>chàbuduō</em> wǔ suì le ba?</span><span class="trans">Your son should be about 5 years old, right?</span>
*他 住 在 上海 <em>差不多</em> 三 个 月 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhù zài Shànghǎi <em>chàbùduō</em> sān gè yuèle.</span><span class="trans">He has lived in Shanghai for about three months.</span>
+
*他 住 在 上海 <em>差不多</em> 三 个 月 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhù zài Shànghǎi <em>chàbuduō</em> sān gè yuè le.</span><span class="trans">He has lived in Shanghai for about three months.</span>
*我 在 这 家 公司 工作 <em>差不多</em> 十 年 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài gōngzuòle <em>chàbùduō</em> shí nián le.</span><span class="trans">I worked in this company for almost ten years.</span>
+
*我 在 这 家 公司 工作 <em>差不多</em> 十 年 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài zhè jiā gōngsī gōngzuò le <em>chàbuduō</em> shí nián le.</span><span class="trans">I've worked for this company for almost ten years.</span>
*我父母 结婚 <em>差不多</em> 二十 年 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒfùmǔ jiéhūn <em>chàbùduō</em> shí nián le.</span><span class="trans">My parents have been married for about twenty years.</span>
+
*我 父母 结婚 <em>差不多</em> 二十 年 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ fùmǔ jiéhūn <em>chàbuduō</em> èrshí nián le.</span><span class="trans">My parents have been married for about twenty years.</span>
*<em>差不多</em> 两 个 星期 以前,我 在 北京 见 过 他。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Chàbùduō</em> liǎng gè xīngqí yǐqián, wǒ zài Běijīng jiàn guo tā.</span><span class="trans">About two weeks ago I met with him in Beijing.</span>
+
*<em>差不多</em> 两 个 星期 以前,我 在 北京 见 过 他。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Chàbuduō</em> liǎng gè xīngqī yǐqián, wǒ zài Běijīng jiàn guo tā.</span><span class="trans">About two weeks ago I met with him in Beijing.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
+
== 差不多 Video ==
 +
 
 +
<div class="YT-container"><youtube>leitNR3rRDc</youtube></div>
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
  
 
*[[Expressing "almost" using "chadian mei"]]
 
*[[Expressing "almost" using "chadian mei"]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
*[[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]] (p. 111) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|17}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 54-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
+
{{Source|现代汉语八百词(增订本)|111}}
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (p. 116) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|54-5}}
 +
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|116}}
  
 
=== Dictionaries ===
 
=== Dictionaries ===
 +
 
* [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (p. 145) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
* [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (p. 145) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|差不多|A2|Subject + 差不多|我们 的 中文 水平 <em>差不多</em>。|grammar point|ASG1NAXO}}
+
{{HSK|HSK4}}
 +
[[Category:Comparing]]
 +
{{Basic Grammar|差不多|A2|Subj. + 差不多|我们 的 中文 水平 <em>差不多</em>。|grammar point|ASG1NAXO}}
 
{{Rel char|差}}
 
{{Rel char|差}}
 
{{Rel char|不}}
 
{{Rel char|不}}
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{{Similar|"Nearly" with "jihu"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Nearly" with "jihu"}}   
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
{{Used for| Expressing degree}}
+
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing similarity}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing similarity}}
 +
{{Used for|Comparing}}
 
{{Translation|almost}}
 
{{Translation|almost}}

Latest revision as of 08:09, 20 July 2021

差不多 (chàbuduō), translated literally, means "the difference is not much." In practice it means something like "more or less," and is useful for expressing rough approximations.

差不多 (chàbuduō) as a Predicate

As a predicate, 差不多 can be used pretty much all by itself to complete a sentence after you tell us what subject we're talking about. When several things are 差不多 (chàbuduō), it means they are "more or less the same." So actually 差不多 (chàbuduō) is often understood to mean 差不多一样 (chàbuduō yīyàng), but you don't say the 一样 (yīyàng) part. You just say 差不多 (chàbuduō).

Simple Subject

Let's first assume that the subject is an easily understood group of people or things.

Structure

Subj. + 差不多

You might also add a (dōu) in before 差不多 (chàbuduō) if there are more than two things being compared.

Examples

  • 这 几 个 地方 都 差不多Zhè jǐ gè dìfang dōu chàbuduō.These places are all pretty much the same.
  • 这 两 个 词 的 意思 差不多Zhè liǎng gè cí de yìsi chàbuduō.The meanings of these two words are pretty much the same.
  • 我们 的 想法 差不多Wǒmen de xiǎngfǎ chàbuduō.Our ways of thinking are pretty much the same.
  • 那 两 家 餐厅 的 菜 差不多Nà liǎng jiā cāntīng de cài chàbuduō.Those two restaurants' dishes are almost the same.
  • 你们 的 中文 水平 差不多Nǐmen de Zhōngwén shuǐpíng chàbuduō.Your Chinese levels are almost the same.

Several Subjects

Let's add in a few different subjects now, using the Chinese word for "and."

Structure

Another often used structure is:

A + 跟 / 和 + B + 差不多

Examples

  • 上海 纽约 差不多Shànghǎi Niǔyuē chàbuduō.Shanghai and New York are basically the same.
  • Starbucks Costa 差不多 Starbucks Costa chàbuduō.Starbucks and Costa are almost the same.
  • 这里 的 天气 台湾 的 天气 差不多 Zhèlǐ de tiānqì gēn Táiwān de tiānqì chàbuduō.The weather here is pretty much like Taiwan's.
  • 你的 工作 我的 工作 差不多 Nǐ de gōngzuò gēn wǒ de gōngzuò chàbuduō.Your job and my job are almost the same.
  • 你的 新 手机 我的 旧 手机 差不多Nǐ de xīn shǒujī gēn wǒ de jiù shǒujī chàbuduō.Your new cell phone is pretty much like my old cell phone.

差不多 (chàbuduō) as an Adverb

When using 差不多 (chàbuduō) as an adverb, place it before the adjective or verb.

Structure

差不多 + Adj. / Verb

Examples

  • 这 两 个 孩子 差不多 大。Zhè liǎng gè háizi chàbuduō dà.These two children are more or less the same age.
  • 我哥哥 差不多 高。gēn wǒ gēge chàbuduō gāo.My older brother and I are more or less the same height.
  • 差不多 到 公园 门口 了。chàbuduō dào gōngyuán ménkǒu le.I'm almost at the entrance of the park.
  • 电影 差不多 要 开始 了。Diànyǐng chàbuduō yào kāishǐ le.The movie is almost about to start.
  • 今天 的 工作 差不多 做 完 了。Jīntiān de gōngzuò chàbuduō zuò wán le.Today's work is almost done.

差不多 (chàbuduō) with a Quantity or Time Phrase

After 差不多 (chàbuduō) you can also add a phrase that expresses quantity or time. This makes it clear that you're giving a rough estimate.

Structure

差不多 + [Quantity Phrase] / [Time Phrase]

Examples

  • 你 儿子 差不多 五 岁 了 吧?Nǐ érzi chàbuduō wǔ suì le ba?Your son should be about 5 years old, right?
  • 他 住 在 上海 差不多 三 个 月 了。Tā zhù zài Shànghǎi chàbuduō sān gè yuè le.He has lived in Shanghai for about three months.
  • 我 在 这 家 公司 工作 了 差不多 十 年 了。Wǒ zài zhè jiā gōngsī gōngzuò le chàbuduō shí nián le.I've worked for this company for almost ten years.
  • 我 父母 结婚 差不多 二十 年 了。Wǒ fùmǔ jiéhūn chàbuduō èrshí nián le.My parents have been married for about twenty years.
  • 差不多 两 个 星期 以前,我 在 北京 见 过 他。Chàbuduō liǎng gè xīngqī yǐqián, wǒ zài Běijīng jiàn guo tā.About two weeks ago I met with him in Beijing.

差不多 Video

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries