Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 差点没
The structure 差点没 (chàdiǎn méi) is a unique expression in Chinese, it can mean almost (did not) and also almost (did) depending on the context.
This lesson breaks it into chapters to explain its nuances and usage.
NEGATIVE OUTCOMES IN CONTEXT
When the event after 差点没 is negative, it emphasises relief that the event did not happen.
When with negative outcomes, 差点没 almost = 差点.
The overall outcome is positive because we are describing something negative that almost happened (but didn’t actually happen).
The speaker often implies how close they were to a bad situation. The sentence emphasizes relief that the event didn’t occur.
我差点没掉进水里。
I almost fell into the water. (But I didn’t.)他差点没被骗。
He almost got scammed. (But he wasn’t.)View More Examples:
| 小猫差点没摔下来。 | Xiǎo māo chàdiǎn méi shuāi xiàlái. | The kitten almost fell down. (But it didn’t.) |
| 我差点没被车撞到。 | Wǒ chàdiǎn méi bèi chē zhuàngdào. | I was almost hit by a car. (But I wasn’t.) |
| 我们差点没丢了钱包。 | Wǒmen chàdiǎn méi diūle qiánbāo. | We almost lost our wallet. (But we didn’t.) |
| 他差点没摔坏电脑。 | Tā chàdiǎn méi shuāihuài diànnǎo. | He almost broke the computer. (But he didn’t.) |
| 差点没做错决定。 | Chàdiǎn méi zuòcuò juédìng. | I almost made the wrong decision. (But I didn’t.) |
| 小狗差点没跑丢。 | Xiǎo gǒu chàdiǎn méi pǎodiū. | The puppy almost ran away. (But it didn’t.) |
Notice that in this case, the overall meaning of 差点没 is 差点.
For example, the event after 差点没 in 我差点没掉进水里 is 掉进水里, a negative outcome.
So, even though there is an additional 没, the sentence 我差点没掉进水里 means I almost fell into the water, same as 我差点掉进水里.
The use of 差点没 followed by negative events is a native and colloquial expression to emphasise how close they were to a bad situation or relief that it didn’t happen.
Even though it doesn’t change the overall meaning, it adds more emotional emphasis.
POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN CONTEXT
When the event after 差点没 is positive, 差点没 = 差点+没 = almost didn’t.
The overall outcome is still positive because 没（absence）negates the positive outcome and the 差点 double negates it. To avoid confusion, it’s better to view the whole sentence as 差点+ some negative event (没+…).
For example, in this sentence: 她差点没赶上飞机, the event after 差点没 is something positive: 赶上飞机 (catching the plane). We can view this sentence in three parts: 她 （the subject），差点（almost）， and 没赶上飞机（didn’t catch the plane).
我差点没通过考试。
I almost didn’t pass the exam. (But I passed.)她差点没赶上飞机。
She almost didn’t catch the flight. (But she made it.)View More Examples
| 他们差点没找到路。 | Tāmen chàdiǎn méi zhǎodào lù. | They almost didn’t find the way. (But they did.) |
| 差点没完成工作。 | Chàdiǎn méi wánchéng gōngzuò. | I almost didn’t finish the work. (But I finished it.) |
| 我差点没看清楚。 | Wǒ chàdiǎn méi kàn qīngchǔ. | I almost didn’t get a good look. (But I did.) |
| 他差点没买到票。 | Tā chàdiǎn méi mǎidào piào. | He almost didn’t get the ticket. (But he got it.) |
USING 差点儿 TO SOUND MORE NATURAL
In spoken Chinese, 差点儿 is often used instead of 差点 to make the expression sound more natural and colloquial.
This is especially common in northern Chinese dialects, including Standard Mandarin, where adding the 儿 sound adds a casual and conversational tone.
- 差点儿 has the same meaning as 差点, but it is preferred in informal speech.
- Similarly, 差点儿没 can replace “差点没” in everyday conversations without changing the meaning.
| with 差点没 | with 差点儿没 | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我差点没迟到。 | 我差点儿没迟到。 | Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi chídào. | I almost arrived late. |
| 他差点没通过考试。 | 他差点儿没通过考试。 | Tā chàdiǎnr méi tōngguò kǎoshì. | He almost didn’t pass the exam. |
View More Examples:
| with 差点没 | with 差点儿没 | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 小猫差点没掉下来。 | 小猫差点儿没掉下来。 | Xiǎo māo chàdiǎnr méi diào xiàlái. | The kitten almost fell. |
| 我差点没来得及做完作业。 | 我差点儿没来得及做完作业。 | Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi láidejí zuò wán zuòyè. | I almost didn’t finish my homework. |
| 差点没被车撞到。 | 差点儿没被车撞到。 | Chàdiǎnr méi bèi chē zhuàng dào. | I almost got hit by a car. |
| 我差点没接到你的电话。 | 我差点儿没接到你的电话。 | Wǒ chàdiǎnr méi jiēdào nǐ de diànhuà. | I almost didn’t get your call. |
| 我们差点没看到日出。 | 我们差点儿没看到日出。 | Wǒmen chàdiǎnr méi kàndào rìchū. | We almost didn’t catch the sunrise. |
| 他差点没发现这个问题。 | 他差点儿没发现这个问题。 | Tā chàdiǎnr méi fāxiàn zhège wèntí. | He almost overlooked the problem. |
OVERUSING 差点儿 IN FORMAL SETTINGS
While 差点儿 sounds more natural in spoken Chinese, it’s less appropriate in formal writing or professional contexts.
Instead, use 差点 to maintain a neutral tone.
Example:
- Formal: 差点没完成任务 (Chàdiǎn méi wánchéng rènwù).
- Informal: 差点儿没完成任务 (Chàdiǎnr méi wánchéng rènwù).
SUMMARY
This lesson explores the nuances of the expression 差点没, a unique structure in Chinese that can mean almost (did not) or almost (did) depending on context.
Here’s a summary of key points:
1. Negative outcomes in context
- When 差点没 is followed by a negative event, it emphasizes relief that the action almost happened but didn’t.
- In this case, 差点没 is equivalent to 差点, as the overall meaning highlights a close call with a negative situation that was ultimately avoided.
我差点没掉进水里
I almost fell into the water (but didn’t).2. Positive outcomes in context
- When 差点没 is followed by a positive event, it means almost didn’t.
- The 没 negates the positive event, while 差点 creates a double negation, resulting in a positive outcome.
她差点没赶上飞机
She almost didn’t catch the plane (but she made it).3. Using 差点儿 to sound natural
- In spoken Chinese, 差点儿 (chàdiǎnr) is commonly used instead of 差点 to sound more casual and conversational.
- This variation is especially prevalent in northern Chinese dialects.
我差点儿没迟到
I almost didn’t arrive late (but I was on time).
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FAQs
What is difference between 差点 and 差点没?
差点 (chàdiǎn) means “almost” in the sense of something nearly happening.
差点没 (chàdiǎn méi) is a tricky structure that can mean both “almost didn’t happen” and “almost happened but didn’t,” depending on context.
Does 差点没 mean something happened?
Context is key!
In most cases, 差点没 actually means the action did happen (e.g., 我差点没考上大学 usually means “I almost didn’t pass, but I did”).
However, some speakers also use it to mean the opposite, so be careful.
Can 差点没 be used with positive outcomes?
Typically, 差点没 is used to describe negative or undesired situations, like accidents or failures, rather than positive outcomes.
Is 差点没 used in formal writing?
Not usually. 差点没 is more common in spoken Chinese and informal writing.
Can 差点没 be replaced with 差点?
Not always!
Using 差点 without 没 usually means the event almost happened but didn’t, while 差点没 can mean the event actually did happen—though usage varies regionally.
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