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

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*请 说 <strong>慢</strong> <em>一点儿</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng shuō <strong>màn</strong> <em>yīdiǎnr</em>.</span><span class="trans">Please speak a little more slowly.</span>
 
*请 说 <strong>慢</strong> <em>一点儿</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng shuō <strong>màn</strong> <em>yīdiǎnr</em>.</span><span class="trans">Please speak a little more slowly.</span>
 
*<strong>快</strong> <em>点儿</em>,要 迟到 了。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Kuài</strong> <em>diǎnr</em>, yào chídào le.</span><span class="trans">A bit faster, we will be late.</span>
 
*<strong>快</strong> <em>点儿</em>,要 迟到 了。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Kuài</strong> <em>diǎnr</em>, yào chídào le.</span><span class="trans">A bit faster, we will be late.</span>
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== Used with Nouns ==
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一点 (yīdiǎn) can be placed before a noun to mean "small quantity," like 一点水,一点钱 while 有点 (yǒudiǎn) 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 something. A few examples to help you understand:
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*你 脸上 <em>有一点</em> <strong>灰</strong> 。<span class="trans">There's a little dirt on your face.</span>
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*你 碗里 还 有 <em>有 一点</em> <strong>饭</strong> ,吃 完 吧 。<span class="trans">There's still a little rice in your bowl. Finish it.</span>
  
 
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== Difference in Negative Forms ==
 
== Difference in Negative Forms ==
  
You can use 不 or 没 after 有点 (or 有点儿) and before the adjective, however the following adjective should have a positive connotation, like 高兴 (gāoxìng), 舒服 (shūfu), 喜欢(xǐhuan) etc. This makes the overall emotion expressed feel negative still.  
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You can use 不 or 没 after 有点 and before the adjective, however the following adjective should have a positive connotation, like 高兴 (gāoxìng), 舒服 (shūfu), 喜欢(xǐhuan) etc. This makes the overall emotion expressed feel negative still.  
  
一点 (or 一点儿) cannot be linked together directly, but can be used in the 一点都(也) 不 / 没 structure to mean "not at all."
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一点 cannot be linked together directly, but can be used in the 一点都(也) 不 / 没 structure to mean "not at all."
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===

Revision as of 08:31, 4 September 2017

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

Used with Adjectives

有点 (also 有点儿) is placed before an adjective, and it usually expresses 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.

一点 (also 一点儿) cannot be placed before an adjective. Instead, it is placed after adjectives. The adjectives that can be used are particularly limited. They often express some kind of comparisons or requests.

Examples

  • 房间 里 有点 Fángjiān lǐ yǒudiǎn .It is a little hot inside the room.
  • 我 今天 有点 Jīntiān wǒmen yǒudiǎn máng.I am a little busy today.
  • 这个 菜 有点 Zhège cài yǒudiǎn xián.The dish is a little salty.
  • 老板 ,便宜 一点儿 吧。Lǎobǎn, piányi yīdiǎnr ba.Sir, a little cheaper please. (directed to the owner of a shop)
  • 请 说 一点儿Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎnr.Please speak a little more slowly.
  • 点儿,要 迟到 了。Kuài diǎnr, yào chídào le.A bit faster, we will be late.

Used with Nouns

一点 (yīdiǎn) can be placed before a noun to mean "small quantity," like 一点水,一点钱 while 有点 (yǒudiǎn) 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 something. A few examples to help you understand:

  • 你 脸上 有一点 There's a little dirt on your face.
  • 你 碗里 还 有 有 一点 ,吃 完 吧 。There's still a little rice in your bowl. Finish it.

Difference in Negative Forms

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

一点 cannot be linked together directly, but can be used in the 一点都(也) 不 / 没 structure to mean "not at all."

Examples

  • 我 今天 有点儿 不 舒服Today I don't feel very good (Lit: a little not comfortable).
  • 我们 还是 有点儿 不 明白lit: "a little not understand"We still don't really understand.
  • 孩子们 有点儿 不 喜欢 这 个 地方 。Kids kind of don't like this place.
  • 这 是 四川 菜 吗?一点儿 都 不 辣This is Sichuan food? It is not spicy at all.
  • 这些 菜 你 一点儿 也 没 吃You didn't eat these food at all.
  • 你们 一点儿 都 不 想 去 吗?Don you not want to go at all?

Right and Wrong

  • 有点 饿I'm a bit hungry.
  • 一点 饿 。I'm a little hungry.
  • 老板 有点 生气The boss is a bit angry.
  • 老板 一点 生气 。The boss is a little angry.
  • 这 件 衣服 一点儿This piece of clothing is a bit expensive.
  • 这 件 衣服 贵 了 有点儿This clothing expensive a little.
  • 老板,便宜 一点 吧 。Sir, how about a bit cheaper?
  • 老板,便宜 有点 吧 。Sir, how about a little cheaper?

Example Dialog

  • A: 这 件 衣服 有点儿啊 。This piece of clothing is a bit expensive.
  • B: 是 一点儿,但是 很 好看,我 很 喜欢。It's a bit expensive, but it looks really good, I like it.
  • A: 服务员,这 件 衣服 能 不 能 便宜 一点Attendant, could we get this a little cheaper?
  • C: 不好意思 ,不能 还价 ,所以 一点 也 不 能 便宜I'm sorry, no haggling. It can't be a little bit cheaper. Not even a bit.

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites