差(一)点儿(没) chà (yī) diǎnr (méi)

差(一)点儿(没)（chà (yī) diǎnr (méi)）means “差(一)点儿(没): almost, nearly (came close to happening)”. 差点儿 means 'almost' — an event nearly happened but did not. Formation: 差(一)点儿(没) + 动词短语

差(一)点儿(没): almost, nearly (came close to happening)

HSK4

Formation

差(一)点儿(没) + 动词短语

Explanation

差点儿 means 'almost' — an event nearly happened but did not. Key twist: for an UNWANTED event, 差点儿 and 差点儿没 mean the SAME thing (it did NOT happen): 差点儿摔倒 = 差点儿没摔倒 = almost fell (but didn't). For a WANTED event they differ: 差点儿赶上 = almost caught it (missed it); 差点儿没赶上 = almost missed it (but caught it).

Examples

我 差点儿 摔倒了。
wǒ chàdiǎnr shuāidǎo le.
I almost fell.
时间太紧，我 差点儿没 赶上火车。
shíjiān tài jǐn, wǒ chàdiǎnr méi gǎnshàng huǒchē.
Time was tight; I almost missed the train (but caught it).

Note

For unwanted events, 差点儿 = 差点儿没 (both: it did NOT happen).

FAQ

差(一)点儿(没) — what does it mean and how is it used?

差(一)点儿(没): almost, nearly (came close to happening). 差点儿 means 'almost' — an event nearly happened but did not. Key twist: for an UNWANTED event, 差点儿 and 差点儿没 mean the SAME thing (it did NOT happen): 差点儿摔倒 = 差点儿没摔倒 = almost fell (but didn't). For a WANTED event they differ: 差点儿赶上 = almost caught it (missed it); 差点儿没赶上 = almost missed it (but caught it).

差(一)点儿(没) — how do you form it?

差(一)点儿(没) + 动词短语

差(一)点儿(没) — any usage notes?

For unwanted events, 差点儿 = 差点儿没 (both: it did NOT happen).

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