Difference between revisions of "Expressing "almost" using "chadian mei""
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| − | *我 <em>差点 没</em> 赶 上 火车。 <span class=" | + | *我 <em>差点 没</em> 赶 上 火车。 <span class="trans">I almost didn't make the train. (but I did)</span> |
| − | *美国 队 很 有 实力，我们 <em>差点 没</em> 赢。 <span class=" | + | *美国 队 很 有 实力，我们 <em>差点 没</em> 赢。 <span class="trans">The American team is very good, we almost didn't win. (but we won)</span> |
| − | *时间 太 紧，这个 项目<em>差点儿 没</em> 做 完。 <span class=" | + | *时间 太 紧，这个 项目<em>差点儿 没</em> 做 完。 <span class="trans>Time was almost up, we almost didn't finish this project. (but we did)</span> |
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Revision as of 05:38, 2 July 2013
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Keywords
Logically, 差点没 is not that different from 差点. 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, and is worth a closer look.
Contents
Logical Structure
Subject + 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 没 赶 上 火车。 I almost didn't make the train. (but I did)
- 美国 队 很 有 实力，我们 差点 没 赢。 The American team is very good, we almost didn't win. (but we won)
- 时间 太 紧，这个 项目差点儿 没 做 完。 Time was almost up, we almost didn't finish this project. (but we did)
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
Websites
