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

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== Used with Adjectives ==
 
== Used with Adjectives ==
 
   
 
   
有点 (also 有点儿) is placed before an adjective, and it usually expresses something that the speaker doesn't want or express his own negative feelings.  
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有点 (also 有点儿) is placed before an adjective, and it usually expresses something that the speaker doesn't want or his own negative feelings about something.  
  
 
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. 一点 is often used when comparing, or expressing speaker’s wish or expectation.
 
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. 一点 is often used when comparing, or expressing speaker’s wish or expectation.

Revision as of 08:51, 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 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.

Used with Adjectives

有点 (also 有点儿) is placed before an adjective, and it usually expresses something that the speaker doesn't want or his own negative feelings about something.

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. 一点 is often used when comparing, or expressing speaker’s wish or expectation.

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.

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lit :"a little not comfortable"Wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎnr bù shūfu.Today I don't feel very good.
  • 我们 还是 有点儿 不 明白lit: "a little not understand"Wǒmen háishì yǒudiǎnr bù míngbai.We still don't really understand.
  • 孩子们 有点儿 不 喜欢 这 个 地方 。Háizi men yǒudiǎnr bù xǐhuan zhège dìfang.Kids kind of don't like this place.
  • 这 是 四川 菜 吗?一点儿 都 不 辣Zhè shì Sìchuān cài ma? Yīdiǎnr dōu bù là.This is Sichuan food? It is not spicy at all.
  • 这些 钱 你 一点儿 也 没 花Zhèxiē qián nǐ yīdiǎnr yě méi huā?You didn't spend the money 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