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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "almost" with 差点 (chàdiǎn)

    HSK 3
    Degree & Intensity
    Result & Consequence

    Structure

    差点 + Verb Phrase

    Explanation

    差点 (chàdiǎn) means "almost" or "nearly" and is used to describe something that came close to happening but ultimately did not. For undesirable events, 差点 alone means the bad thing almost happened; for desirable events, 差点没 is used to express that a good thing almost didn't happen. This word adds drama and emphasis to storytelling.

    Examples

    • 我差点忘了今天是她的生日。

      Wǒ chàdiǎn wàng le jīntiān shì tā de shēngrì.

      I almost forgot that today is her birthday.

    • 他跑得太快，差点摔倒。

      Tā pǎo de tài kuài, chàdiǎn shuāidǎo.

      He ran too fast and almost fell down.

    • 那道题太难了，我差点没做出来。

      Nà dào tí tài nán le, wǒ chàdiǎn méi zuò chūlái.

      That question was so hard that I almost couldn't solve it.

    Often Confused With