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. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Pattern without 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'''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Structure === | ||
| + | |||
| + | 不带 | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Subj. + 差点(儿) + [Verb Phrase] | + | Subj. + 差点(儿) + [Verb Phrase] |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | === Examples === | |
| − | |||
| − | == Examples == | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *我 今天 <em>差点儿</em> 迟到 | + | *我 今天 <em>差点儿</em> 迟到 。 <span class="expl">I wasn't late</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎnr</em> chídào.</span><span class="trans">I was almost late.</span> |
*他们 <em>差点</em> 打 起来 。<span class="expl">They didn't start a fight.</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>chàdiǎn</em> dǎ qǐlái.</span><span class="trans">They almost started a fight.</span> | *他们 <em>差点</em> 打 起来 。<span class="expl">They didn't start a fight.</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>chàdiǎn</em> dǎ qǐlái.</span><span class="trans">They almost started a fight.</span> | ||
*我 <em>差点</em> 笑 出来。<span class="expl">I didn't laugh.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> xiào chūlái.</span><span class="trans">I almost laughed.</span> | *我 <em>差点</em> 笑 出来。<span class="expl">I didn't laugh.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> xiào chūlái.</span><span class="trans">I almost laughed.</span> | ||
*车 <em>差点</em> 撞到 我 。<span class="expl">The car didn't hit me.</span><span class="pinyin">Chē <em>chàdiǎn</em> zhuàngdào wǒ.</span><span class="trans">The car almost hit me.</span> | *车 <em>差点</em> 撞到 我 。<span class="expl">The car didn't hit me.</span><span class="pinyin">Chē <em>chàdiǎn</em> zhuàngdào wǒ.</span><span class="trans">The car almost hit me.</span> | ||
*手机 <em>差点</em> 掉进 水 里 。 <span class="expl">The cell phone didn't fall into the water</span><span class="pinyin">Shǒujī <em>chàdiǎn</em> diào jìn shuǐ. lǐ.</span><span class="trans">The cell phone nearly fell into the water.</span> | *手机 <em>差点</em> 掉进 水 里 。 <span class="expl">The cell phone didn't fall into the water</span><span class="pinyin">Shǒujī <em>chàdiǎn</em> diào jìn shuǐ. lǐ.</span><span class="trans">The cell phone nearly fell into the water.</span> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Pattern with 了 == | ||
| + | |||
| + | You can put 就 after 差点(儿) when 了 is used 了. In this case, 就 can be omitted. 了 comes right before the object if an object is included in the verb phrase. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Structure === | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Subj. + 差点(儿) + (就) + [Verb Phrase] / Adj. + 了 | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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*我 <em>差点</em> 忘 了 今天 要 开会 。 <span class="expl">I didn't forget.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> wàng le .</span><span class="trans">I almost forgot we need to have a meeting today.</span> | *我 <em>差点</em> 忘 了 今天 要 开会 。 <span class="expl">I didn't forget.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> wàng le .</span><span class="trans">I almost forgot we need to have a meeting today.</span> | ||
| + | *我们 <em>差点儿</em> 错过 了 最后 一 班 地铁。 <span class="expl">We didn't miss it.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>chàdiǎnr</em> cuòguò le zuìhòu yī bān dìtiě.</span><span class="trans">We almost missed the last metro.</span> | ||
*菜 <em>差点</em> <strong>就</strong> 糊 了。 <span class="expl">It wasn't burned.</span><span class="pinyin">Cài <em>chàdiǎn</em> <strong>jiù</strong> hú le.</span><span class="trans"> almost .</span> | *菜 <em>差点</em> <strong>就</strong> 糊 了。 <span class="expl">It wasn't burned.</span><span class="pinyin">Cài <em>chàdiǎn</em> <strong>jiù</strong> hú le.</span><span class="trans"> almost .</span> | ||
*我们 队 <em>差点儿</em> <strong>就</strong> 输 了。 <span class="expl">the team didn't lose</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen duì <em>chàdiǎnr</em> <strong>jiù</strong> shū le.</span><span class="trans">Our team almost lost.</span> | *我们 队 <em>差点儿</em> <strong>就</strong> 输 了。 <span class="expl">the team didn't lose</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen duì <em>chàdiǎnr</em> <strong>jiù</strong> shū le.</span><span class="trans">Our team almost lost.</span> | ||
*这个 东西 <em>差点</em> <strong>就</strong> 丢 了 。 <span class="expl">I did't lost it.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi <em>chàdiǎn</em> <strong>jiù</strong> diū le.</span><span class="trans">I almost lost the thing.</span> | *这个 东西 <em>差点</em> <strong>就</strong> 丢 了 。 <span class="expl">I did't lost it.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi <em>chàdiǎn</em> <strong>jiù</strong> diū le.</span><span class="trans">I almost lost the thing.</span> | ||
| − | + | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 02:47, 7 August 2017
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Level
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Similar to
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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。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.
Pattern without 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.
Structure
不带
Subj. + 差点(儿) + [Verb Phrase]
Examples
- 我 今天 差点儿 迟到 。 I wasn't lateI was almost late.
- 他们 差点 打 起来 。They didn't start a fight.They almost started a fight.
- 我 差点 笑 出来。I didn't laugh.I almost laughed.
- 车 差点 撞到 我 。The car didn't hit me.The car almost hit me.
- 手机 差点 掉进 水 里 。 The cell phone didn't fall into the waterThe cell phone nearly fell into the water.
Pattern with 了
You can put 就 after 差点(儿) when 了 is used 了. In this case, 就 can be omitted. 了 comes right before the object if an object is included in the verb phrase.
Structure
Subj. + 差点(儿) + (就) + [Verb Phrase] / Adj. + 了
- 我 差点 忘 了 今天 要 开会 。 I didn't forget.I almost forgot we need to have a meeting today.
- 我们 差点儿 错过 了 最后 一 班 地铁。 We didn't miss it.We almost missed the last metro.
- 菜 差点 就 糊 了。 It wasn't burned. almost .
- 我们 队 差点儿 就 输 了。 the team didn't loseOur team almost lost.
- 这个 东西 差点 就 丢 了 。 I did't lost it.I almost lost the thing.
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
