差点 (chàdiǎn)
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.
Contents
- Structure
- Examples
- See also
- Sources and further reading
- Books
Literal Meaning
It might help to understand the literal meaning of the structure. The word 差 (chà) 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 is always opposite with the verb phrase after "差点(儿)," whether the verb phrase contains "没" or not.
Pattern without 了
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.
Structure
Subj. + 差点(儿) + [Verb Phrase]
Examples
- 我 今天 差点儿 迟到 。
I wasn't late
Wǒ chàdiǎnr chídào.
I was almost late.
- 他们 差点 打 起来 。
They didn't start a fight.
Tāmen chàdiǎn dǎ qǐlái.
They almost started a fight.
- 我 差点 笑 出来。
I didn't laugh.
Wǒ chàdiǎn xiào chūlái.
I almost laughed.
- 车 差点 撞到 我 。
The car didn't hit me.
Chē chàdiǎn zhuàngdào wǒ.
The car almost hit me.
- 手机 差点 掉进 水 里 。
The cell phone didn't fall into the water
Shǒujī chàdiǎn diào jìn shuǐ. lǐ.
The cell phone nearly fell into the water.
Pattern with了
You can put 就 after 差点(儿) when 了 is used 了. In this case, 就 can be omitted. 了 comes right before the object if an object is included in the verb phrase.
Structure
Subj. + 差点(儿) + (就) + [Verb Phrase] / Adj. + 了
Examples
- 我 差点 忘 了 今天 要 开会 。
I didn't forget.
Wǒ chàdiǎn wàng le .
I almost forgot we need to have a meeting today.
- 我们 差点儿 错过 了 最后 一 班 地铁。
We didn't miss it.
Wǒmen chàdiǎnr cuòguò le zuìhòu yī bān dìtiě.
We almost missed the last metro.
- 菜 差点 就 糊 了。
It wasn't burned.
Cài chàdiǎn jiù hú le. almost .
- 我们 队 差点儿 就 输 了。
the team didn't lose
Wǒmen duì chàdiǎnr jiù shū le.
Our team almost lost.
- 这个 东西 差点 就 丢 了 。
I did't lost it.
Zhège dōngxi chàdiǎn jiù diū le.
I almost lost the thing.
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
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 112)
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (p. 341)
Dictionaries
Expressing "almost" using "chadian"
(Redirected from ASG6ESWW)
Level B1
Similar to
Expressing "almost" using "chadian mei" (B2)
Expressing "nearly" with "jihu" (B2)
Used for
Describing actions
Keywords
差点, 了
Translations
almost
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.
Contents
1 Literal Meaning
2 Structure
3 Examples
4 Using 差点 with 没
5 See also
6 Sources and further reading
6.1 Books
6.2 Dictionaries
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).
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.
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
车 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 a fight.
Tāmen chàdiǎn dǎ qǐlái.
They almost started a fight.
我 差点 忘 了 。I didn't forget.
Wǒ chàdiǎn wàng le.
I almost forgot.
我 今天 差点 迟到 了 。 I wasn't late
Wǒ jīntiān chàdiǎn chídào le.
I was almost late today.
她 差点 疯 了 。She didn't go crazy.
Tā chàdiǎn fēng le.
She almost went crazy.
他 差点 就 死 了 。He didn't die.
Tā chàdiǎn jiù sǐ le.
He almost died.
菜 差点 糊 了 。It wasn't burned.
Cài chàdiǎn hú le.
The food was almost burnt.
我们 队 差点 输 了 。the team didn't lose
Wǒmen duì chàdiǎn shū le.
Our team almost lost.
我 差点 就 做到 了 。I didn't manage to do it.
Wǒ chàdiǎn jiù zuòdào le.
I almost did it.
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
"Nearly" with "jihu"
Expressing "almost" using "chadianmei"
Sources and further reading
Books
现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 112) [ →buy]
40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 341) →buy
Dictionaries
现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 145) →buy