Difference between revisions of "Comparing "youdian" and "yidian""

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有点 yǒudiǎn and 一点 yīdiǎn (有点儿 [yǒudiǎn] and 一点儿 [yǒu yīdiǎner] in Northern dialects) both mean the same thing, "a little" or "a bit", but they have different ways of being used in sentences.\r\n
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== Positions in sentence is different==
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一点 (yīdiǎn) and 有点 (yǒudiǎn), usually pronounced 一点儿 (yīdiǎnr) and 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) in northern China, mean pretty much the same thing on the surface—"a little" or "a bit"—but they have different uses in sentences.
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== Both Can Be Used for Describing Degree  ==
 
   
 
   
有点 (also 有点儿) is placed after a subject but before an adjective, and it usually expressed something that you don't want. Some examples of adjectives that can be coupled with 有点 are 生气, 伤心, 难过,讨厌 etc.\r\n=== 有点儿 is before adjective===\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n有点儿+Adjective\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我 觉得 这 个 人 <em>有点儿</em> <strong></strong>。<span class="trans">I think this person is a little lazy.</span>
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=== Usage of 有点 ===
* 在 这里 工作 <em>有点儿</em> <strong></strong><span class="trans">It is a little tiring to work here.</span>
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* 今天 <em>有点儿</em> <strong></strong>。<span class="trans">Today it's a little cold.</span>
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有点 is placed before an adjective, and while used for descriptions, it also expresses a tone of complaint by the speaker, or some other form of negative impression. It doesn't just mean "a bit," but rather "a bit ''too''" (for the speaker's liking).
* 水 <em>有点儿</em> <strong></strong><span class="trans">The water is a little warm.</span>
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* 上海 菜 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>甜</strong>。<span class="trans">Shanghai food is a little sweet.</span>
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A few examples:
* 我 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>饿</strong>。<span class="trans">I'm a little hungry.</span>
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* 老板 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>生气</strong>。<span class="trans">The boss is a little mad.</span>
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<div class="liju">
* 我 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>讨厌</strong> 这 个 地方。<span class="trans">I dislike this place a little.</span>
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*今天 我 <em>有点</em> <strong></strong> 。<span class="expl">This is a complaint.</span><span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒ <em>yǒudiǎn</em> <strong>lèi</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I am a little tired today.</span>
* 妈妈 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>难过</strong><span class="trans">Mom is a little sad.</span>
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*这个 菜 <em>有点</em> <strong></strong> 。<span class="expl">This is a complaint.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège cài <em>yǒudiǎn</em> <strong>xián</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This dish is a bit salty.</span>
* 她 走 了,他 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>伤心</strong><span class="trans">She left, he is a little broken hearted.</span>\r\n</div>\r\n一点 (also 一点儿) cannot be placed before an adjective, instead, it is placed after an adjective. The adjectives that can be used are particularly limited. They often express some kind of comparison.\r\n=== 一点儿 is after adjective ===\r\n<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
Adjective + (了)一点儿
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</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 老板,<strong>便宜</strong>  <em>一点儿</em> 吧。<span class="trans">Sir, a little cheaper please. (directed to the owner of a shop)</span>
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=== Usage of 一点 ===
* 请 说 得 <strong></strong> <em>一 点 儿</em>。<span class="trans">Please speak a little more slowly.</span>
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* <strong></strong> 一点儿,要 迟到 了。<span class="trans">A bit faster, we will be late.</span>
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一点 can't be placed before an adjective. Instead, it is placed ''after'' adjectives. The adjectives that can be used are particularly limited. 一点 is often used when comparing, requesting, or expressing the speaker’s expectation. In this usage, 一点 can also be shortened to just 点。
* 我们 应该 做 得 <strong>好</strong> <em>一点儿</em>。<span class="trans">We should make it a bit better.</span>
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* 放 点 肉 吧,<strong>好吃</strong> <em>一点儿</em><span class="trans">Put some meat in it, it will taste a bit better.</span>
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A few examples:
* 这 个 地方 的 衣服 <strong></strong> <em>一点儿</em>,但是 <strong>好看</strong> <em>一点儿</em><span class="trans">This place's clothes are a bit expensive, but they are a bit prettier.</span>
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* 这 个 菜 <strong></strong> 了 <em>一点儿</em><span class="trans">This dish is a little spicy.</span>
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<div class="liju">
* 蛋糕 不错,可是 <strong>甜</strong>了<em>一点儿</em>。<span class="trans">The cake is good, but it is a bit sweet.</span>
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*请 说 <strong>慢</strong> <em>一点</em> 。<span class="expl">This is a request.</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng shuō <strong>màn</strong> <em>yīdiǎn</em>.</span><span class="trans">Please speak a little more slowly.</span>
* 上海 比 北京 <strong>热</strong> <em>一点儿</em>。<span class="trans">Shanghai is a bit hotter than Beijing.</span>
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*<strong></strong> <em></em>,要 迟到 了。<span class="expl">This is a request.</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>Kuài</strong> <em>diǎn</em>, yào chídào le.</span><span class="trans">Hurry up a bit, we're going to be late.</span>
* 我们 今天 学 的 语法 会<strong></strong> <em>一点儿</em>。<span class="trans">The grammar we studied today was a bit difficult.</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== Negative forms are different ==\r\nIn this structure, after 有点(or 有点儿) you can use or 没, however the following adjective should have a positive connotation, like 高兴, 安全, 太好 etc. \r\n=== Negative 有点儿 ===\r\n<div class="jiegou">
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*老板 ,<strong>便宜</strong>  <em>点</em> 吧 。<span class="expl">This is a request.</span><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn, <strong>piányi</strong> <em>diǎn</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">Boss [shop owner], a little cheaper, please.</span>
有点儿+ 不/没 + Adjective/Verb
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*这个 比 那个 <strong></strong> <em>一点</em> 。<span class="expl">This is a comparison.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège bǐ nàge <strong>zhòng</strong> <em>yīdiǎn</em>.</span><span class="trans">This one is a bit heavier than that one.</span>
</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我 觉得 这 个 人 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>不 聪明</strong>。<span class="trans">I think this person is a little stupid (Lit: is a little not clever).</span>
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</div>
* 老板 <em>有点儿</em>  <strong>不 高兴</strong><span class="trans">The boss is a little unhappy.</span>
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* 我 今天 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>不 舒服</strong>。<span class="trans">Today I am a little uncomfortable (Lit: a little not comfortable).</span>
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== Use 有(一)点 for Describing Quantity ==
* 晚上 一个人 回家 <em>有点儿</em>  <strong>不 安全</strong><span class="trans">Last night a person returned home a little unsafe.</span>
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* 我 还是 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>不 明白</strong>。<span class="trans">I still don't really understand. (Lit: a little not understand)</span>
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一点 can be placed before a noun to mean "small quantity," like 一点水,一点钱 while 有点 can't be used this way. Note that 有点 is also a shortened form of 有一点, which means "there is a little" of something.
* 这样 做 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>不 太 好</strong> 吧。<span class="trans">Making it this way is not very good.</span>
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* 这 个 时间 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>不 方便</strong><span class="trans">This time is a bit inconvenient.</span>
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A few examples to help you understand:
* <em>有点儿</em> <strong>不 喜欢</strong> 这 个 地方。<span class="trans">I don't really like this place.</span>
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* 他 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>不想</strong>回 美国。<span class="trans">He doesn't really want to go to America.</span>
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<div class="liju">
* 我 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>不 相信</strong> 他。<span class="trans">I am a little unconvinced.</span>
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</div>\r\n一点 (or 一点儿) cannot be linked together directly, but it can be used in the 一点儿也/都不 or 一点儿也/都没 structure.\r\n=== Negative 一点儿 ===\r\n<div class="jiegou">
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*你 脸 上 <em>有 一 点</em> <strong>番茄酱</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ liǎn shàng <em>yǒu yī diǎn</em> <strong>fānqiéjiàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">There's a little ketchup on your face.</span>
一点儿+ 也/都+ 不/没 + Adjective
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*你 碗里 还 <em>有 点</em> <strong>饭</strong> ,吃 完 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wǎn lǐ hái <em>yǒu diǎn</em> <strong>fàn</strong>, chī wán ba.</span><span class="trans">There's still a little rice in your bowl. Finish eating it.</span>
</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 老板,<strong>便宜</strong>  <em>一点儿</em> 吧。<span class="trans">Sir, a little cheaper please. (directed to the owner of a shop)</span>
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* 这 个 老师 说话 <em>一点儿 都</em> <strong>不 慢</strong>。<span class="trans">This teacher does not speak slowly at all.</span>
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</div>
* 我们 做 得 <em>一点儿 都</em> <strong>不 好</strong>。<span class="trans">We did not do it well at all.</span>
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* 这 个 菜 <em>一点儿 都</em> <strong>不 好吃</strong>。<span class="trans">This dish is not delicious at all.</span>
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== Negative Forms ==
* 这 个 地方 的 衣服 <em>一点儿 都</em> <strong>不 贵</strong>。<span class="trans">This place's clothes are not expensive at all.</span>
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* 这 是 四川 菜 吗?<em>一点儿 也</em> <strong>不 辣</strong>。<span class="trans">This is Sichuan food? It is not spicy at all.</span>
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=== Use 有点 Before Just 不 or 没 ===
* 为什么 这 个 可乐 <em>一点儿 也</em> <strong>不 甜</strong>?<span class="trans">Why is this coke not sweet at all?</span>
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* 今天<em>一点儿 也</em> <strong>不 热</strong>。<span class="trans">Today is not hot at all.</span>
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After 有点, you can use 不 or 没 before the adjective, however the adjective should have a positive connotation, like 高兴 (gāoxìng), 舒服 (shūfu), 喜欢 (xǐhuan), etc. This makes the overall emotion expressed  negative still.
* 我们 今天 学 的 语法 <em>一点儿 也</em> <strong>不 难</strong>。<span class="trans">The grammar that we studied today is not hard at all.</span>
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* 你 看起来 <em>一点儿</em> <strong> 也 不 累</strong>。<span class="trans">You look like you are not even a bit tired.</span>
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Some examples:
</div>\r\n== Examples of right and wrong sentences ==\r\n<div class="liju">
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 +
<div class="liju">
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*孩子们 <em>有点</em> <strong></strong> 喜欢 我们 的 新 家 。<span class="pinyin">Háizi men <em>yǒudiǎn</em> <strong>bù</strong> xǐhuan wǒmen de xīn jiā.</span><span class="trans">The children don't really like our new home.</span>
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*她 <em>有点</em> <strong></strong> 舒服 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>yǒudiǎn</em> <strong>bù</strong> shūfu.</span><span class="trans">She doesn't feel very well.</span>
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*我 <em>有点</em> <strong>不</strong> 相信 那 个人 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǒudiǎn</em> <strong></strong> xiāngxìn nàge rén.</span><span class="trans">I don't really believe that guy.</span>
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*我们 <em>有点</em> <strong></strong> 听懂 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>yǒudiǎn</em> <strong>méi</strong> tīngdǒng.</span><span class="trans">We didn't really understand what was said.</span>
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 +
</div>
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=== Use 一点 Before 也不 or 也没 ===
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一点 can also be used in the [[Expressing "not at all" with "yidianr ye bu"|一点也不 or 一点也没 structure]] to mean "not at all."
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 +
Some examples:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
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*这个 菜 <em>一点 也</em> <strong>不</strong> 辣 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège cài <em>yīdiǎn yě</em> <strong></strong> là.</span><span class="trans">This dish is not spicy at all.</span>
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*作业 你 <em>一点 也</em> <strong></strong> 做 ?<span class="pinyin">Zuòyè nǐ <em>yīdiǎn yě</em> <strong>méi</strong> zuò?</span><span class="trans">You didn't do any homework at all?</span>
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</div>
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== Common Mistakes ==
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 +
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="o">我 <em>有点</em> <strong>饿</strong>。</li><span class="trans">I'm a bit hungry.</span>
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<li class="x">今天 <em>一点</em> 热 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>yīdiǎn</em> .</span></li>
<li class="x"><em>一点</em> 饿。</li><span class="trans">I'm a little hungry.</span>
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<li class="o">今天 <em>有点</em> 。<span class="expl">This is a complaint.</span><span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> rè.</span><span class="trans">It's a little hot today.</span></li>
<li class="o">老板 <em>有点儿</em> <strong>生气</strong>。</li><span class="trans">The boss is a bit angry.</span>
 
<li class="x">老板 <em>一点儿</em> 生气。</li><span class="trans">Boss is a little angry.</span>
 
<li class="o">这 件 衣服 <strong>贵</strong> 了 <em>一点儿</em> 。</li><span class="trans">This piece of clothing is a bit expensive.</span>
 
<li class="x">这 件 衣服 贵 了 <em>有点儿</em> </li><span class="trans">This piece of clothing expensive a little.</span>
 
<li class="o">老板,<strong>便宜</strong>  <em>一点儿</em> 吧。</li><span class="trans">Sir, how about a bit cheaper?</span>
 
<li class="x">老板,便宜  <em>有点儿</em> 吧。</li><span class="trans">Sir, how about a little cheaper?</span>
 
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
</div>\r\n== Example dialog ==\r\n<div class="liju">
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</div>
* A: 这件衣服<em>有点儿</em><strong></strong>啊。<span class="trans">This piece of clothing is a bit expensive.</span>
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* B: 是 <strong></strong> <em>一点儿</em>,但是 真 的 很 好看,我 好 喜欢。<span class="trans">It's a bit expensive, but it looks really good, I like it.</span>
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<div class="liju">
* A: 服务员,这 件 衣服 能 不 能 <strong>便宜</strong> <em>一点</em>?<span class="trans">Attendant, could we get this a little cheaper?</span>
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<ul>
* C: 不好意思,这 是 新 的,<em>一点儿</em> <strong>也 不 能 便宜</strong><span class="trans">I'm sorry, this is a new item, it can't even be a little bit cheaper.</span>
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<li class="x"><em>一点</em> 饿 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yīdiǎn</em> è.</span></li>
</div>\r\n== See also ==
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<li class="o"><em>有点</em> 饿 。<span class="expl">This is a complaint.</span><span class="pinyin"><em>yǒudiǎn</em> è.</span><span class="trans">I'm a little hungry.</span></li>
* [[Expressing "A bit too"]]
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</ul>
 +
</div>
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 +
== See also ==
 +
 
 
* [[Expressing "a little too" with "you dian"]]
 
* [[Expressing "a little too" with "you dian"]]
* [["Not at all"]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==
+
* [[Expressing "not at all" with "yidianr ye bu"]]
 +
* [[Expressing "a bit too"]]
 +
 
 +
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
*[[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]] (“一点儿”p. 602) [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]
+
 
*[[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]] (“有点儿”p. 633) [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|现代汉语八百词(增订本)|602}}
*[[对外汉语教学语法释疑201例]] (p.172) [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]\r\n=== Websites ===
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{{Source|现代汉语八百词(增订本)| 633}}
* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/general/yi-dianr-placement/ Where to place 一点儿 (yī diǎnr) in a sentence]\r\n[[Category:grammar comparison]]
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{{Source|对外汉语教学语法释疑201例|172}}
{{Basic Grammar|有点(儿)|A2|有点(儿) vs 一点(儿)|这 衣服 <em>有点儿</em> 贵 , 便宜 <em>一点儿</em> 吧。|grammar point|ASGV55Y4}}
+
{{Source|Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)|43}}
{{Rel char|一点(儿)}}
+
{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|63}}
 +
 
 +
=== Websites ===
 +
 
 +
* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/general/yi-dianr-placement/ Where to place 一点儿 (yī diǎnr) in a sentence]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|有点儿|B1|有点 vs. 一点|这 衣服 <em>有点</em> 贵 ,便宜 <em>一点</em> 吧。|grammar point|ASGV55Y4}}
 +
{{Rel char|有点}}
 +
{{Rel char|一点}}
 
{{Rel char|点}}
 
{{Rel char|点}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "A bit too"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "a little too" with "you dian"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "not at all" with "yidianr ye bu"}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
 
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
 
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Comparison|Adverbs}}
 
{{Comparison|Adverbs}}

Latest revision as of 07:52, 14 May 2019

一点 (yīdiǎn) and 有点 (yǒudiǎn), usually pronounced 一点儿 (yīdiǎnr) and 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) in northern China, mean pretty much the same thing on the surface—"a little" or "a bit"—but they have different uses in sentences.

Both Can Be Used for Describing Degree

Usage of 有点

有点 is placed before an adjective, and while used for descriptions, it also expresses a tone of complaint by the speaker, or some other form of negative impression. It doesn't just mean "a bit," but rather "a bit too" (for the speaker's liking).

A few examples:

  • 今天 我 有点 This is a complaint.Jīntiān wǒ yǒudiǎn lèi.I am a little tired today.
  • 这个 菜 有点 This is a complaint.Zhège cài yǒudiǎn xián.This dish is a bit salty.

Usage of 一点

一点 can't be placed before an adjective. Instead, it is placed after adjectives. The adjectives that can be used are particularly limited. 一点 is often used when comparing, requesting, or expressing the speaker’s expectation. In this usage, 一点 can also be shortened to just 点。

A few examples:

  • 请 说 一点This is a request.Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn.Please speak a little more slowly.
  • ,要 迟到 了。This is a request.Kuài diǎn, yào chídào le.Hurry up a bit, we're going to be late.
  • 老板 ,便宜 吧 。This is a request.Lǎobǎn, piányi diǎn ba.Boss [shop owner], a little cheaper, please.
  • 这个 比 那个 一点This is a comparison.Zhège bǐ nàge zhòng yīdiǎn.This one is a bit heavier than that one.

Use 有(一)点 for Describing Quantity

一点 can be placed before a noun to mean "small quantity," like 一点水,一点钱 while 有点 can't be used this way. Note that 有点 is also a shortened form of 有一点, which means "there is a little" of something.

A few examples to help you understand:

  • 你 脸 上 有 一 点 番茄酱Nǐ liǎn shàng yǒu yī diǎn fānqiéjiàng.There's a little ketchup on your face.
  • 你 碗里 还 有 点 ,吃 完 吧 。Nǐ wǎn lǐ hái yǒu diǎn fàn, chī wán ba.There's still a little rice in your bowl. Finish eating it.

Negative Forms

Use 有点 Before Just 不 or 没

After 有点, you can use 不 or 没 before the adjective, however the adjective should have a positive connotation, like 高兴 (gāoxìng), 舒服 (shūfu), 喜欢 (xǐhuan), etc. This makes the overall emotion expressed negative still.

Some examples:

  • 孩子们 有点 喜欢 我们 的 新 家 。Háizi men yǒudiǎn xǐhuan wǒmen de xīn jiā.The children don't really like our new home.
  • 有点 舒服 。yǒudiǎn shūfu.She doesn't feel very well.
  • 有点 相信 那 个人 。yǒudiǎn xiāngxìn nàge rén.I don't really believe that guy.
  • 我们 有点 听懂 。Wǒmen yǒudiǎn méi tīngdǒng.We didn't really understand what was said.

Use 一点 Before 也不 or 也没

一点 can also be used in the 一点也不 or 一点也没 structure to mean "not at all."

Some examples:

  • 这个 菜 一点 也 辣 。Zhège cài yīdiǎn yě là.This dish is not spicy at all.
  • 作业 你 一点 也 做 ?Zuòyè nǐ yīdiǎn yě méi zuò?You didn't do any homework at all?

Common Mistakes

  • 今天 一点 热 。Jīntiān yīdiǎn rè.
  • 今天 有点 热 。This is a complaint.Jīntiān yǒudiǎn rè.It's a little hot today.
  • 一点 饿 。yīdiǎn è.
  • 有点 饿 。This is a complaint.yǒudiǎn è.I'm a little hungry.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites