Expressing "almost" using "chadian"

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.

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

• "Nearly" with "jihu"
• Expressing "almost" using "chadianmei"

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