Difference between revisions of "Expressing "almost" using "chadian""

 
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== Literal Meaning ==
 
== Literal Meaning ==
  
It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure.  The word 差 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 of what really happened is always the opposite of the verb phrase after 差点(儿).
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It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure.  The word 差 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; it ''almost'' happened. Just remember: the fact of what really happened is always ''NOT'' the verb phrase after 差点(儿).
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
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'''.
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Note that the "[[Predicate]]" part of the structure is usually something bad or something you don't wish for, and that it '''didn't happen'''.
  
 
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*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>
*我们 <em>差点</em> 相信 他 。<span class="expl">We didn't believe him</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>chàdiǎn</em> xiāngxìn tā.</span><span class="trans">We almost believed him.</span>
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*我们 <em>差点</em> 相信 他 。<span class="expl">We didn't believe him.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>chàdiǎn</em> xiāngxìn tā.</span><span class="trans">We almost believed him.</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>
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*他们 <em>差点</em> 打 起来 。<span class="expl">They didn't start fighting.</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> 忘 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">I didn't forget.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> wàng <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I almost forgot.</span>
 
*我 <em>差点</em> 忘 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">I didn't forget.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> wàng <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I almost forgot.</span>
*我 今天 <em>差点</em> 迟到 <strong>了</strong> 。 <span class="expl">I wasn't late</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān <em>chàdiǎn</em> chídào <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I was almost late today.</span>
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*我 今天 <em>差点</em> 迟到 <strong>了</strong> 。 <span class="expl">I wasn't late.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān <em>chàdiǎn</em> chídào <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I was almost late today.</span>
 
*她 <em>差点</em> 疯 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">She didn't go crazy.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>chàdiǎn</em> fēng <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">She almost went crazy.</span>
 
*她 <em>差点</em> 疯 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">She didn't go crazy.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>chàdiǎn</em> fēng <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">She almost went crazy.</span>
 
*他 <em>差点</em> <strong>就</strong> 死 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">He didn't die.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>chàdiǎn</em> <strong>jiù</strong> sǐ <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He almost died.</span>
 
*他 <em>差点</em> <strong>就</strong> 死 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">He didn't die.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>chàdiǎn</em> <strong>jiù</strong> sǐ <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He almost died.</span>
*菜 <em>差点</em> 糊 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">It wasn't burned.</span><span class="pinyin">Cài <em>chàdiǎn</em> hú <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The food was almost burnt.</span>
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*菜 <em>差点</em> 糊 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">It wasn't burned.</span><span class="pinyin">Cài <em>chàdiǎn</em> hú <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The food was almost burned.</span>
*我们 队 <em>差点</em> 输 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">the team didn't lose</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen duì <em>chàdiǎn</em>  shū <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Our team almost lost.</span>
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*我们 队 <em>差点</em> 输 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">The team didn't lose.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen duì <em>chàdiǎn</em>  shū <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Our team almost lost.</span>
*我 <em>差点</em> <strong>就</strong> 做到 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">I didn't manage to do it.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> <strong>jiù</strong> zuòdào <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I almost did it.</span>
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*我 <em>差点</em> <strong>就</strong> 打 他 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">I didn't actually do it.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chàdiǎn</em> <strong>jiù</strong> dǎ tā <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I almost hit him.</span>
  
 
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== Using 差点 with 没 ==
 
== 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"]].
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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"|expressing "almost" using "chadian mei."]]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|差点|B1|Subj. + 差点(儿) + (就) + Predicate + 了|我 今天 <em>差点儿</em> 迟到 <em>了</em> 。|grammar point|ASG6ESWW}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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{{Basic Grammar|差点|B1|Subj. + 差点 + Predicate|我 今天 <em>差点儿</em> 迟到 <em>了</em> 。|grammar point|ASG6ESWW}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Similar|"Nearly" with "jihu"}}  
 
{{Similar|"Nearly" with "jihu"}}  

Latest revision as of 07:57, 14 May 2019

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.

Literal Meaning

It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure. The word 差 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; it almost happened. Just remember: the fact of what really happened is always NOT the verb phrase after 差点(儿).

Structure

Note that the "Predicate" part of the structure is usually something bad or something you don't wish for, and that it didn't happen.

Subj. + 差点 + Predicate

You can put 了 at the end of the sentence for emphasis. In this case, 就 is often used and it's optional.

Subj. + 差点 (+就) + Predicate + 了

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

  • 差点 撞到 我 。The car didn't hit me.Chē chàdiǎn zhuàngdào wǒ.The car almost hit me.
  • 我们 差点 相信 他 。We didn't believe him.Wǒmen chàdiǎn xiāngxìn tā.We almost believed him.
  • 他们 差点 打 起来 。They didn't start fighting.Tāmen chàdiǎn dǎ qǐlái.They almost started a fight.
  • 差点I didn't forget.chàdiǎn wàng le.I almost forgot.
  • 我 今天 差点 迟到 I wasn't late.Wǒ jīntiān chàdiǎn chídào le.I was almost late today.
  • 差点She didn't go crazy.chàdiǎn fēng le.She almost went crazy.
  • 差点 He didn't die.chàdiǎn jiùle.He almost died.
  • 差点It wasn't burned.Cài chàdiǎnle.The food was almost burned.
  • 我们 队 差点The team didn't lose.Wǒmen duì chàdiǎn shū le.Our team almost lost.
  • 差点 打 他 I didn't actually do it.chàdiǎn jiù dǎ tā le.I almost hit him.

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

Dictionaries