Difference between revisions of "Expressing "a little too" with "you dian""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
At times you may want to politely say something is overwhelming or uncomfortable by saying "a little too."  For example, if you are getting lunch with a friend who wants to be seated outside, you might say, "it is a little too hot" to politely suggest you sit inside. In that case, you can use 有点 (yǒu diǎn) or 有一点 (yǒu yì diǎn).
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At times you may want to politely diss something using the phrase "a little too."  For example, if you are getting lunch with a friend who wants to be seated outside, you might say, "It is a little too hot" to suggest you sit inside. In a case like this, you can use 有一点 (yǒuyīdiǎn) or 有点 (yǒudiǎn). The two are interchangeable.
  
=== Structure ===
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== Structure ==  
  
To say that something is "a little ''too'' ... " or "a bit ''too'' ...", 有一点 (yǒuyīdiǎn) is often used. Its northern Chinese versions is 有一点儿 (yǒu yīdiǎnr).  
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To say that something is "a little ''too''..." or "a bit ''too''...," 有一点 (yǒuyīdiǎn) is often used. Its northern Chinese version is 有一点儿 (yǒuyīdiǎnr).  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
Subj. + 有一点(儿) + Adj.
 
Subj. + 有一点(儿) + Adj.
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
Subj. + 有点(儿) + Adj.
 
Subj. + 有点(儿) + Adj.
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 <em>有点</em> 饿。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǒudiǎn</em> è. </span> <span class="trans">I'm a little hungry. </span>
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*我 <em>有点</em> 饿 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǒudiǎn</em> è.</span><span class="trans">I'm a little hungry.</span>
* 这 个  菜 <em>有点</em> 辣。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge cài <em>yǒudiǎn</em> là. </span> <span class="trans">This dish is a little too spicy. </span>
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*这个 菜 <em>有点</em> 辣 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège cài <em>yǒudiǎn</em> là.</span><span class="trans">This dish is a little too spicy.</span>
* 昨天 <em>有点</em> 热。 <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> rè. </span> <span class="trans">Yesterday it was a little too hot. </span>
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*昨天 <em>有一点</em> 热 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <em>yǒuyīdiǎn</em> rè.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday it was a little too hot.</span>
* 上海 的 冬天 <em>有点</em> 冷。 <span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi de dōngtiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> lěng. </span> <span class="trans">Winter in Shanghai is a bit too cold. </span>
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*上海 的 冬天 <em>有一点</em> 冷。 <span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi de dōngtiān <em>yǒuyīdiǎn</em> lěng.</span><span class="trans">Winter in Shanghai is a bit too cold.</span>
* 我弟弟 <em>有点</em> 胖。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ dìdi <em>yǒudiǎn</em> pàng. </span> <span class="trans">My younger brother is a bit fat. </span>
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*我弟弟 <em>有点</em> 胖 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dìdi <em>yǒudiǎn</em> pàng.</span><span class="trans">My younger brother is a bit fat.</span>
* 今天 <em>有点</em> 累。 <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> lèi. </span> <span class="trans">Today I am a little bit tired. </span>
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*今天 <em>有点</em> 累 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> lèi.</span><span class="trans">Today I am a little bit tired.</span>
* 这 个 月 公司 <em>有点</em>  忙。<span class="pinyin"> Zhè ge yuè gōngsī <em>yǒudiǎn</em> máng.</span> <span class="trans">This month the company is a little too busy. </span>
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*这个 月 公司 <em>有点</em>  忙 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège yuè gōngsī <em>yǒudiǎn</em> máng.</span><span class="trans">This month the company is a little bit busy.</span>
* 这 个 地方 <em>有点</em> 吵,我们 走吧。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge dìfāng <em>yǒudiǎn</em>  chǎo, wǒmen zǒu ba. </span> <span class="trans">This place is a little too noisy. Let's go. </span>
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*这 个 地方 <em>有点</em> 吵 ,我们 走吧 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang <em>yǒudiǎn</em>  chǎo, wǒmen zǒu ba.</span><span class="trans">This place is a little too noisy. Let's go.</span>
* 爸爸 回来 <em>有点</em> 晚 ,妈妈 <em>有点</em> 不高兴。<span class="pinyin">Bàba huílái <em>yǒudiǎn</em> wǎn, māma <em>yǒudiǎn</em> bù gāoxìng. </span> <span class="trans">Dad came back home a bit too late, so mom was a little unhappy. </span>
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* 爸爸 回来 <em>有点</em> 晚 ,妈妈 <em>有点</em> 不高兴 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba huílái <em>yǒudiǎn</em> wǎn, māma <em>yǒudiǎn</em> bù gāoxìng.</span><span class="trans">Dad came back home a bit too late, so mom was a little unhappy.</span>
* 老师 今天 <em>有点</em> 不 舒服,所以 来上课。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī jīntiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> bù shūfu, suǒyǐ méi lái shàngkè. </span> <span class="trans">Today, the teacher felt a little unwell, so she didn't come to class. </span>
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*老师 今天 <em>有点</em> 不 舒服 ,所以 来上课 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī jīntiān <em>yǒudiǎn</em> bù shūfu, suǒyǐ méi lái shàngkè.</span><span class="trans">Today, the teacher felt a little unwell, so she didn't come to class.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Negative Connotation ==
 
== Negative Connotation ==
  
Note that for someone speaking, the adjective after “有点 (儿) (yǒudiǎn(er))expresses a passive or negative meaning, so we don't say the expressions “有点高兴 (yǒudiǎn gāoxìng),” “有点舒服 (yǒudiǎn shūfu),” “有点好玩儿 (yǒudiǎn hǎowánr),etc.
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Note that for the speaker, the adjective after 有点 (yǒudiǎn) expresses an unpleasant or undesirable meaning, so you won't hear things like 有点高兴 (yǒudiǎn gāoxìng), 有点舒服 (yǒudiǎn shūfu), 有点好玩儿 (yǒudiǎn hǎowánr), etc., because "happy," "comfortable," and "fun" are all adjectives with positive connotations.
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== See Also ==
  
== See also ==
 
 
* [[Expressing "excessively" with "tai"]]
 
* [[Expressing "excessively" with "tai"]]
 
* [[Expressing "a bit too"]]
 
* [[Expressing "a bit too"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 183-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|36}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|183-4}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|有点|A2|有点(儿) + Adj.|我 <em>有点</em> 饿。|grammar point|ASGPM3MY}}
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Basic Grammar|有点|A2|有点(儿) + Adj.|我 <em>有点</em> 饿 。|grammar point|ASGPM3MY}}
 
{{Rel char|有点儿}}
 
{{Rel char|有点儿}}
 
{{Rel char|一点}}
 
{{Rel char|一点}}
 
{{Rel char|一点儿}}
 
{{Rel char|一点儿}}
 
{{Rel char|有}}
 
{{Rel char|有}}
{{Similar|Expressing "excessively" with tai}}  
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{{Similar|Expressing "excessively" with "tai"}}  
 
{{Similar|Expressing "A bit too"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "A bit too"}}
 
{{Similar|Simple "noun + adjective sentences}}
 
{{Similar|Simple "noun + adjective sentences}}
{{Similar|"Some" using "yixie"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "much more" in comparisons}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"}}     
 
{{Similar|Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"}}     
 
{{Similar|Comparing "youdian" and "yidian"}}     
 
{{Similar|Comparing "youdian" and "yidian"}}     
 
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
 
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
{{Used for|Describing things}}
 
 
{{Used for|Expressing quality}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing quality}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs with Adjectives}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs with Adjectives}}
 
{{Translation|too}}
 
{{Translation|too}}

Latest revision as of 08:54, 21 April 2021

At times you may want to politely diss something using the phrase "a little too." For example, if you are getting lunch with a friend who wants to be seated outside, you might say, "It is a little too hot" to suggest you sit inside. In a case like this, you can use 有一点 (yǒuyīdiǎn) or 有点 (yǒudiǎn). The two are interchangeable.

Structure

To say that something is "a little too..." or "a bit too...," 有一点 (yǒuyīdiǎn) is often used. Its northern Chinese version is 有一点儿 (yǒuyīdiǎnr).

Subj. + 有一点(儿) + Adj.

In spoken Chinese, the 一 (yī) in 有一点 (yǒuyīdiǎn) is often dropped, leaving 有点 (yǒudiǎn). In northern China, that's usually pronounced 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr).

Subj. + 有点(儿) + Adj.

Examples

  • 有点 饿 。yǒudiǎn è.I'm a little hungry.
  • 这个 菜 有点 辣 。Zhège cài yǒudiǎn là.This dish is a little too spicy.
  • 昨天 有一点 热 。Zuótiān yǒuyīdiǎn rè.Yesterday it was a little too hot.
  • 上海 的 冬天 有一点 冷。 Shànghǎi de dōngtiān yǒuyīdiǎn lěng.Winter in Shanghai is a bit too cold.
  • 我弟弟 有点 胖 。Wǒ dìdi yǒudiǎn pàng.My younger brother is a bit fat.
  • 今天 有点 累 。Jīntiān yǒudiǎn lèi.Today I am a little bit tired.
  • 这个 月 公司 有点 忙 。Zhège yuè gōngsī yǒudiǎn máng.This month the company is a little bit busy.
  • 这 个 地方 有点 吵 ,我们 走吧 。Zhège dìfang yǒudiǎn chǎo, wǒmen zǒu ba.This place is a little too noisy. Let's go.
  • 爸爸 回来 有点 晚 ,妈妈 有点 不高兴 。Bàba huílái yǒudiǎn wǎn, māma yǒudiǎn bù gāoxìng.Dad came back home a bit too late, so mom was a little unhappy.
  • 老师 今天 有点 不 舒服 ,所以 没 来上课 。Lǎoshī jīntiān yǒudiǎn bù shūfu, suǒyǐ méi lái shàngkè.Today, the teacher felt a little unwell, so she didn't come to class.

Negative Connotation

Note that for the speaker, the adjective after 有点 (yǒudiǎn) expresses an unpleasant or undesirable meaning, so you won't hear things like 有点高兴 (yǒudiǎn gāoxìng), 有点舒服 (yǒudiǎn shūfu), 有点好玩儿 (yǒudiǎn hǎowánr), etc., because "happy," "comfortable," and "fun" are all adjectives with positive connotations.

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books