差不多 (chàbuduō), translated literally, means "the difference is not
much." In practice it means something like "more or less," and is useful
for expressing rough approximations.
差不多 (chàbuduō) as a Predicate
--------------------------------
As a [predicate](predicate "wikilink"), 差不多 can be used pretty much
all by itself to complete a sentence after you tell us what subject
we're talking about. When several things are 差不多 (chàbuduō), it means
they are "more or less *the same*." So actually 差不多 (chàbuduō) is
often understood to mean 差不多一样 (chàbuduō yīyàng), but you don't say
the 一样 (yīyàng) part. You just say 差不多 (chàbuduō).
### Simple Subject
Let's first assume that the subject is an easily understood group of
people or things.
#### Structure
Subj. + 差不多
You might also add a [都](都 "wikilink") (dōu) in before 差不多
(chàbuduō) if there are more than two things being compared.
#### Examples
- 这 几 个 地方 都 差不多。Zhè jǐ gè
dìfang dōu chàbuduō.These places
are all pretty much the same.
- 这 两 个 词 的 意思 差不多。Zhè liǎng
gè cí de yìsi chàbuduō.The
meanings of these two words are pretty much the same.
- 我们 的 想法 差不多。Wǒmen de xiǎngfǎ
chàbuduō.Our ways of thinking
are pretty much the same.
- 那 两 家 餐厅 的 菜 差不多。Nà liǎng
jiā cāntīng de cài
chàbuduō.Those two restaurants'
dishes are almost the same.
- 你们 的 中文 水平 差不多。Nǐmen de
Zhōngwén shuǐpíng chàbuduō.Your
Chinese levels are almost the same.
### Several Subjects
Let's add in a few different subjects now, using the Chinese word for
"[and](and "wikilink")."
#### Structure
Another often used structure is:
A + 跟 / 和 + B + 差不多
#### Examples
- 上海 和 纽约 差不多。Shànghǎi
hé Niǔyuē
chàbuduō.Shanghai and New York
are basically the same.
- Starbucks 和 Costa 差不多。
Starbucks hé Costa
chàbuduō.Starbucks and Costa are
almost the same.
- 这里 的 天气 跟 台湾 的 天气
差不多。 Zhèlǐ de tiānqì gēn
Táiwān de tiānqì chàbuduō.The
weather here is pretty much like Taiwan's.
- 你的 工作 跟 我的 工作
差不多。 Nǐ de gōngzuò gēn wǒ
de gōngzuò chàbuduō.Your job and
my job are almost the same.
- 你的 新 手机 跟 我的 旧 手机
差不多。Nǐ de xīn shǒujī gēn
wǒ de jiù shǒujī chàbuduō.Your
new cell phone is pretty much like my old cell phone.
差不多 (chàbuduō) as an Adverb
------------------------------
When using 差不多 (chàbuduō) as an adverb, place it before the adjective
or verb.
### Structure
差不多 + Adj. / Verb
### Examples
- 这 两 个 孩子 差不多 大。Zhè liǎng gè
háizi chàbuduō dà.These two
children are more or less the same age.
- 我 跟 我哥哥 差不多 高。Wǒ
gēn wǒ gēge chàbuduō
gāo.My older brother and I are more or
less the same height.
- 我 差不多 到 公园 门口 了。Wǒ
chàbuduō dào gōngyuán ménkǒu
le.I'm almost at the entrance of the
park.
- 电影 差不多 要 开始 了。Diànyǐng
chàbuduō yào kāishǐ le.The movie
is almost about to start.
- 今天 的 工作 差不多 做 完 了。Jīntiān
de gōngzuò chàbuduō zuò wán
le.Today's work is almost done.
差不多 (chàbuduō) with a Quantity or Time Phrase
------------------------------------------------
After 差不多 (chàbuduō) you can also add a phrase that expresses
quantity or time. This makes it clear that you're giving a rough
estimate.
### Structure
差不多 ＋ \[Quantity Phrase\] / \[Time Phrase\]
### Examples
- 你 儿子 差不多 五 岁 了 吧？Nǐ érzi
chàbuduō wǔ suì le ba?Your son
should be about 5 years old, right?
- 他 住 在 上海 差不多 三 个 月 了。Tā
zhù zài Shànghǎi chàbuduō sān gè yuè
le.He has lived in Shanghai for about
three months.
- 我 在 这 家 公司 工作 了 差不多 十 年
了。Wǒ zài zhè jiā gōngsī gōngzuò le
chàbuduō shí nián le.I've worked
for this company for almost ten years.
- 我 父母 结婚 差不多 二十 年 了。Wǒ
fùmǔ jiéhūn chàbuduō èrshí nián
le.My parents have been married for about
twenty years.
- 差不多 两 个 星期 以前，我 在 北京 见 过
他。Chàbuduō liǎng gè xīngqí yǐqián,
wǒ zài Běijīng jiàn guo tā.About two
weeks ago I met with him in Beijing.
See also
--------
- [Expressing "almost" using "chadian
mei"](Expressing_"almost"_using_"chadian_mei" "wikilink")
- [Expressing "almost" using
"chadian"](Expressing_"almost"_using_"chadian" "wikilink")
- ["Nearly" with "jihu"]("Nearly"_with_"jihu" "wikilink")
Sources and further reading
---------------------------
### Books
- [现代汉语八百词（增订本）](现代汉语八百词（增订本） "wikilink") (p.
111)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
1](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1 "wikilink") (pp. 54-5)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792)
- [Basic Patterns of Chinese
Grammar](Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar "wikilink") (p. 116)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899)
### Dictionaries
- [现代汉语词典（第5版）](现代汉语词典（第5版） "wikilink") (p. 145)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1)
[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")