Difference between revisions of "Expressing "almost" using "chadian""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
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| − | + | To say that something bad ''almost'' happened (but didn't), you can add the word 差点 (chàdiǎn) before the verb. You will also hear 差点儿 (chàdiǎnr) in northern China. There is no difference in meaning between 差点 and 差点儿. | |
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| + | == Literal Meaning == | ||
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| + | It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure. The word 差 (chà) has a lot of meanings. In this case, it means "to lack," or "to be short." So in Chinese, the way to say "almost" is to say, "lacking that little bit." If that "little bit" hadn't been lacking, it ''would have'' happened. But it ''was'' lacking, so it didn't happen... it ''almost'' happened. | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Subject + 差点(儿) + Verb + 了 | + | Subject + 差点(儿) + [Verb Phrase] + 了 |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | Note that the "Verb Phrase" part of the structure is usually something bad, and that it '''didn't happen'''. | |
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我们 队 <em>差点儿 </em> 输了。 | + | * 我们 队 <em>差点儿 </em> 输了。 <span class="expl">(the team didn't lose)</span><span class="trans">Our team almost lost.</span> |
| − | * 我们 队 <em>差点儿 </em> 赢了。 | + | * 我们 队 <em>差点儿 </em> 赢了。 <span class="expl">(the team didn't win; this type of usage less common)</span><span class="trans">Our team almost won.</span> |
| − | * 看到 妈妈 走 了，她 <em>差点</em> 哭 | + | * 看到 妈妈 走 了，她 <em>差点</em> 哭 了 。 <span class="expl">(she didn't cry)</span><span class="trans">When she saw mom leave, she almost cried.</span> |
| − | * 雨 很 大，我 <em>差点 </em> 回 不 来 | + | * 雨 很 大，我 <em>差点 </em> 回 不 来 了 。 <span class="expl">(I actually did make it back, though)</span><span class="trans">The rain is so heavy I almost couldn't make it back.</span> |
| − | * 路上 堵车，我 <em>差点儿 </em> | + | * 路上 堵车，我 <em>差点儿 </em> 迟到 了 。 <span class="expl">(I wasn't late)</span><span class="trans">The traffic is bad; I was almost late.</span> |
| − | * 我 <em>差点儿 </em> 犯 了 一 个 大 | + | * 我 <em>差点儿 </em> 犯 了 一 个 大 错 。 <span class="expl">(I didn't make a big mistake)</span><span class="trans">I nearly made a big mistake.</span> |
| − | * 他 <em>差点儿 </em> 看到 我们 了，好 | + | * 他 <em>差点儿 </em> 看到 我们 了，好 险 ！ <span class="expl">(he didn't see us)</span><span class="trans">He almost saw us. That was a close one!</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 02:32, 29 January 2013
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
To say that something bad almost happened (but didn't), you can add the word 差点 (chàdiǎn) before the verb. You will also hear 差点儿 (chàdiǎnr) in northern China. There is no difference in meaning between 差点 and 差点儿.
Contents
Literal Meaning
It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure. The word 差 (chà) has a lot of meanings. In this case, it means "to lack," or "to be short." So in Chinese, the way to say "almost" is to say, "lacking that little bit." If that "little bit" hadn't been lacking, it would have happened. But it was lacking, so it didn't happen... it almost happened.
Structure
Subject + 差点(儿) + [Verb Phrase] + 了
Note that the "Verb Phrase" part of the structure is usually something bad, and that it didn't happen.
Examples
- 我们 队 差点儿 输了。 (the team didn't lose)Our team almost lost.
- 我们 队 差点儿 赢了。 (the team didn't win; this type of usage less common)Our team almost won.
- 看到 妈妈 走 了，她 差点 哭 了 。 (she didn't cry)When she saw mom leave, she almost cried.
- 雨 很 大，我 差点 回 不 来 了 。 (I actually did make it back, though)The rain is so heavy I almost couldn't make it back.
- 路上 堵车，我 差点儿 迟到 了 。 (I wasn't late)The traffic is bad; I was almost late.
- 我 差点儿 犯 了 一 个 大 错 。 (I didn't make a big mistake)I nearly made a big mistake.
- 他 差点儿 看到 我们 了，好 险 ！ (he didn't see us)He almost saw us. That was a close one!
See also
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
