Difference between revisions of "Expressing "almost" using "chadian""
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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。Technically, it ''almost'' happened. Just remember: The fact is always opposite with the verb phrase after "差点(儿)", whether the verb phrase contains "没" or not. | 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。Technically, it ''almost'' happened. Just remember: The fact is always opposite with the verb phrase after "差点(儿)", whether the verb phrase contains "没" or not. | ||
| − | + | == Basic Structure == | |
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Note that the "Verb Phrase" part of the structure is usually something bad or something you don't wish for, and that it '''didn't happen'''. You can put "就" after "差点儿" . | Note that the "Verb Phrase" part of the structure is usually something bad or something you don't wish for, and that it '''didn't happen'''. You can put "就" after "差点儿" . | ||
| − | + | == Examples == | |
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* 我 <em>差点儿</em> (就) 犯 了 一 个 大 错 。 <span class="expl">I didn't make a big mistake</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> (jiù) fàn le yīgè dà cuò.</span><span class="trans">I nearly made a big mistake.</span> | * 我 <em>差点儿</em> (就) 犯 了 一 个 大 错 。 <span class="expl">I didn't make a big mistake</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> (jiù) fàn le yīgè dà cuò.</span><span class="trans">I nearly made a big mistake.</span> | ||
* 他 <em>差点儿</em> (就) 看到 我们 了，好 险 ！ <span class="expl">he didn't see us</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>chàdiǎn</em> (jiù) kàndào wǒmen le, hǎo xiǎn!</span><span class="pinyin"></span><span class="trans">He almost saw us. That was a close one!</span> | * 他 <em>差点儿</em> (就) 看到 我们 了，好 险 ！ <span class="expl">he didn't see us</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>chàdiǎn</em> (jiù) kàndào wǒmen le, hǎo xiǎn!</span><span class="pinyin"></span><span class="trans">He almost saw us. That was a close one!</span> | ||
| − | * | + | * 我们 高兴 得 <em>差点儿</em> 哭 出来。 <span class="expl">We didn't cry. </span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zuótiān <em>chàdiǎn</em> (jiù) chídào le.</span><span class="trans">We were almost late yesterday. </span> |
| − | + | * 车 <em>差点</em> (就) 撞到 我 了。<span class="expl">The car didn't hit me. </span><span class="pinyin">Chē <em>chàdiǎn</em> (jiù) zhuàngdào wǒ le. </span><span class="trans">The car almost hit me. </span> | |
| − | * | + | * 我 <em>差点</em> 忘 了 。 <span class="expl">I didn't forget. </span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> wàng le. </span><span class="trans">I almost forgot. </span> |
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== Using 差点 with 没== | == Using 差点 with 没== | ||
Revision as of 09:36, 15 March 2017
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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。Technically, it almost happened. Just remember: The fact is always opposite with the verb phrase after "差点(儿)", whether the verb phrase contains "没" or not.
Basic Structure
Subj. + 差点(儿) + [Verb Phrase] + 了
Note that the "Verb Phrase" part of the structure is usually something bad or something you don't wish for, and that it didn't happen. You can put "就" after "差点儿" .
Examples
- 我们 队 差点儿 输了。 the team didn't loseOur team almost lost.
- 我们 队 差点儿 就输了。 the team didn't loseOur team almost lost.
- 雨 很 大，我 差点 回 不 来 了 。 I actually did make it back, thoughThe rain is so heavy I almost couldn't make it back.
- 雨 很 大，我 差点 就 回 不 来 了 。 I actually did make it back, thoughThe 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 lateThe traffic is bad; I was almost late.
- 路上 堵车，我 差点儿 就 迟到 了 。 I wasn't lateThe traffic is bad; I was almost late.
- 我 差点儿 (就) 犯 了 一 个 大 错 。 I didn't make a big mistakeI nearly made a big mistake.
- 他 差点儿 (就) 看到 我们 了，好 险 ！ he didn't see usHe almost saw us. That was a close one!
- 我们 高兴 得 差点儿 哭 出来。 We didn't cry. We were almost late yesterday.
- 车 差点 (就) 撞到 我 了。The car didn't hit me. The car almost hit me.
- 我 差点 忘 了 。 I didn't forget. I almost forgot.
Using 差点 with 没
This can get confusing, even though it's really the same pattern (and same logic) with a little added complexity. This pattern goes beyond the difficulty level of the needs of the B1 learner, so to learn more about this usage, see expressing "almost" using "chadian mei".
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 112) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (p. 341)→buy
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 145) →buy
