Difference between revisions of "Expressing "a bit too""

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* 这 把 椅子 稍微 硬 <em>了 点儿</em>,我 坐 得 有点 难受。<span class="trans">This chair is a little too hard. I'm having a hard time sitting in it.</span>
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*这 条 裙子 小 <em>了 点儿</em>,我 想 换 一 件。<span class="trans">This dress is a little small. I need another one.</span>
* 这 道 菜 稍微 咸 <em>了 点儿</em>,可以 重新 炒 吗?<span class="trans">This food is a little too salty, could you make it again?</span>
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*他 给 的 这个 红包 好像 少 <em>了 点儿</em> <span class="trans">The money he gave in the red packet seems too little.</span>
* 我 妈妈 说 钱 挣 <em>了 点儿</em>,人 长 得 矮 <em>了 点儿</em>。她 觉得 我 需要 找 一 个 好 点儿 的 男 朋友。<span class="trans">My mother says you earn too little money, and you're a little too short. She thinks I need to find a boyfriend who's a little better.</span>
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*你 是 不 是 多 <em>了 点儿</em> ?<span class="trans">Don't you care too much?.</span>
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*私立 学校 是 贵 <em>了 点儿</em> ,不过 老师 很 优秀 。<span class="trans">Private schools are a little expensive, but their teachers are extraordinary.</span>
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*这 道 菜 咸 <em>了 点儿</em>,可以 换 一 盘 吗?<span class="trans">This dish is a little too salty, could you have another one again?</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 02:53, 4 September 2017

了一点儿 (le yīdiǎnr), can be added after an adjective to mean "a little bit too." It is softer in tone than using 太, and so is often used when the speaker doesn't want to insult the listener by speaking too directly.

Structure

Adj. + 了(一)点儿

Examples

  • 这 条 裙子 小 了 点儿,我 想 换 一 件。This dress is a little small. I need another one.
  • 他 给 的 这个 红包 好像 少 了 点儿The money he gave in the red packet seems too little.
  • 你 管 得 是 不 是 多 了 点儿Don't you care too much?.
  • 私立 学校 是 贵 了 点儿 ,不过 老师 很 优秀 。Private schools are a little expensive, but their teachers are extraordinary.
  • 这 道 菜 咸 了 点儿,可以 换 一 盘 吗?This dish is a little too salty, could you have another one again?

As in the first two examples, 稍微 is often added before the adjective to further soften the tone.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5