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  <h1>Approximations with "<span class="pinyinst">chàbuduō</span>" "<span class="hanzist">差不多</span>"</h1>

  <p><span class="hanzi">差不多</span> (<span class="pinyin">chàbuduō</span>), translated literally, means "<b>the difference is not much.</b>" In practice it means something like "more or less," and is useful for expressing rough approximations.</p>

  <h2 id="差不多-chàbuduō-as-a-predicate"><span class="hanzist">差不多</span>(<span class="pinyinst">chàbuduō</span>) as a Predicate</h2>

  <p>As a <a href="predicate" class="uri" title="wikilink">predicate</a>, <span class="hanzi">差不多</span> 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 <span class="hanzi">差不多</span>(<span class="pinyin">chàbuduō</span>), it means they are "<b>more or less the same.</b>" So actually <span class="hanzi">差不多</span> (<span class="pinyin">chàbuduō</span>) is often understood to mean <span class="hanzi">差不多一样</span> (<span class="pinyin">chàbuduō yīyàng</span>), but you don't say the <span class="hanzi">一样</span> (<span class="pinyin">yīyàng</span>) part. You just say <span class="hanzi">差不多</span> (<span class="pinyin">chàbuduō</span>).</p>

  <h3 id="simple-subject">Simple Subject</h3>

  <p>Let's first assume that the subject is an easily understood group of people or things.</p>

  <h4 id="structure">Structure</h4>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">差不多</span></p>
  </div>

  <p>You might also add a <span class="hanzi">都</span> (<span class="pinyin">dōu</span>) in before <span class="hanzi">差不多</span> (<span class="pinyin">chàbuduō</span>) if there are more than two things being compared.</p>

  <h4 id="examples">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">这 几 个 地方 都 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zhè jǐ gè dìfang dōu <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>These places are all pretty much the same.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这 两 个 词 的 意思 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng gè cí de yìsi <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>The meanings of these two words are pretty much the same.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 的 想法 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de xiǎngfǎ <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>Our ways of thinking are pretty much the same.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">那 两 家 餐厅 的 菜 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nà liǎng jiā cāntīng de cài <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>Those two restaurants' dishes are almost the same.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你们 的 中文 水平 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen de Zhōngwén shuǐpíng <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>Your Chinese levels are almost the same.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h3 id="several-subjects">Several Subjects</h3>

  <p>Let's add in a few different subjects now, using the Chinese word for "<b>and.</b>"</p>

  <h4 id="structure-1">Structure</h4>

  <p>Another often used structure is:</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>A + <span class="hanzist">跟 / 和</span> + B + <span class="hanzist">差不多</span></p>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples-1">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">上海 <span class="fondjaune">和</span> 纽约 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <span class="fondjaune">hé</span> Niǔyuē <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>Shanghai and New York are basically the same.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">Starbucks <span class="fondjaune">和</span> Costa <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Starbucks <span class="fondjaune">hé</span> Costa <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>Starbucks and Costa are almost the same.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这里 的 天气 <span class="fondjaune">跟</span> 台湾 的 天气 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de tiānqì <span class="fondjaune">gēn</span> Táiwān de tiānqì <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>The weather here is pretty much like Taiwan's.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你的 工作 <span class="fondjaune">跟</span> 我的 工作 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ de gōngzuò <span class="fondjaune">gēn</span> wǒ de gōngzuò <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>Your job and my job are almost the same.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你的 新 手机 <span class="fondjaune">跟</span> 我的 旧 手机 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ de xīn shǒujī <span class="fondjaune">gēn</span> wǒ de jiù shǒujī <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span>.</span><br/>Your new cell phone is pretty much like my old cell phone.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="差不多-chàbuduō-as-an-adverb"><span class="hanzist">差不多</span> (<span class="pinyinst">chàbuduō</span>) as an Adverb</h2>

  <p>When using <span class="hanzi">差不多</span>(<span class="pinyin">chàbuduō</span>) as an adverb, place it before the adjective or verb.</p>

  <h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>

  <div class="deux">
    <p><span class="hanzist">差不多</span>+ Adj. / Verb</p>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">这 两 个 孩子 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 大。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zhè liǎng gè háizi <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> dà.</span> <br/>These two children are more or less the same age.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 <span class="fondjaune">跟</span> 我哥哥 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 高。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <span class="fondjaune">gēn</span> wǒ gēge <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> gāo.</span> <br/>My older brother and I are more or less the same height.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 到 公园 门口 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> dào gōngyuán ménkǒu le.</span> <br/>I'm almost at the entrance of the park.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">电影 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 要 开始 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Diànyǐng <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> yào kāishǐ le.</span> <br/>The movie is almost about to start.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">今天 的 工作 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 做 完 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Jīntiān de gōngzuò <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> zuò wán le.</span> <br/>Today's work is almost done.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="差不多-chàbuduō-with-a-quantity-or-time-phrase"><span class="hanzist">差不多</span> (<span class="pinyinst">chàbuduō</span>) with a Quantity or Time Phrase</h2>

  <p>After <span class="hanzi">差不多</span>(<span class="pinyin">chàbuduō</span>) you can also add a phrase that expresses quantity or time. This makes it clear that you're giving a rough estimate.</p>

  <h3 id="structure-3">Structure</h3>

  <div class="deux">
    <p><span class="hanzist">差不多</span>＋ [Quantity Phrase] / [Time Phrase]</p>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples-3">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 儿子 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 五 岁 了 吧？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ érzi <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> wǔ suì le ba?</span> <br/>Your son should be about 5 years old, right?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他 住 在 上海 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 三 个 月 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā zhù zài Shànghǎi <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> sān gè yuè le.</span> <br/>He has lived in Shanghai for about three months.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 在 这 家 公司 工作 了 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 十 年 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài zhè jiā gōngsī gōngzuò le <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> shí nián le.</span> <br/>I've worked for this company for almost ten years.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 父母 结婚 <span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 二十 年 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ fùmǔ jiéhūn <span class="fondjaune">chàbuduō</span> èrshí nián le.</span> <br/>My parents have been married for about twenty years.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">差不多</span> 两 个 星期 以前，我 在 北京 见 过 他。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Chàbuduō</span> liǎng gè xīngqí yǐqián, wǒ zài Běijīng jiàn guo tā.</span> <br/>About two weeks ago I met with him in Beijing.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li><a href="Expressing_&quot;almost&quot;_using_&quot;chadian_mei&quot;" title="wikilink">Expressing "almost" using "chadian mei"</a></li>

    <li><a href="Expressing_&quot;almost&quot;_using_&quot;chadian&quot;" title="wikilink">Expressing "almost" using "chadian"</a></li>

    <li><a href="&quot;Nearly&quot;_with_&quot;jihu&quot;" title="wikilink">"Nearly" with "jihu"</a></li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="books">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语八百词（增订本）</span>(p. 111)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 54-5)</li>

    <li>Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (p. 116)</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 id="dictionaries">Dictionaries</h3>

  <ul>
    <li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语词典（第5版）</span> (p. 145)</li>
  </ul>
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