Expressing "almost" using "chadian"

Nível: HSK 4 | Categoria: Gramática

Explicação da Regra:

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. 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). 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

Exemplos com Falantes Nativos:

• 车差点撞到我。 (chē chàdiǎn zhuàngdào wǒ 。): "The car almost hit me."
• 我们差点相信他。 (wǒmen chàdiǎn xiāngxìn tā 。): "We almost believed him."
• 他们差点打起来。 (tāmen chàdiǎn dǎ qǐlái 。): "They almost fought."
• 我差点忘了。 (wǒ chàdiǎn wàng le 。): "I almost forgot."
• 我今天差点迟到了。 (wǒ jīntiān chàdiǎn chídào le 。): "I was almost late today."

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