▎差一點（就）, chàyìdiǎn (jiù), (Adv), almost

 

Function 差一點（就）… means ‘almost... (but did not)’. The ... part usually indicates a situation that, from the speaker’s perspective, was not expected to take place. 就 in this pattern is optional, but its use marks urgency.

1 昨天的演講真沒意思，我差一點睡著了。

Zuótiān de yǎnjiǎng zhēn méiyìsi, wǒ chàyìdiǎn shuìzháo le.

The speech yesterday was really boring. I almost fell asleep.

2 上次我哥哥去爬山的時候，差一點迷路。

Shàng cì wǒ gēge qù páshān de shíhòu, chàyìdiǎn mílù.

The last time my brother went hiking in the mountains, he almost got lost.

3 為了健康，他差一點就搬到鄉下去住。

Wèile jiànkāng, tā chàyìdiǎn jiù bān dào xiāngxià qù zhù.

For the sake of his health, he nearly moved to the countryside.

4 上個星期他在圖書館念書，背包差一點被偷走。

Shàng ge xīngqí tā zài túshūguǎn niànshū, bēibāo chàyìdiǎn bèi tōuzǒu.

Last week, he was studying in the library and his backpack almost got stolen.

5 小美的生日，我差一點就忘了送她禮物。

Xiǎoměi de shēngrì, wǒ chàyìdiǎn jiù wàngle sòng tā lǐwù.

On Xiaomei’s birthday, I almost forgot to give her a present.

 

Usage 差一點（就）… indicates that some situation almost took place but did not. 差不多chàbùduō, on the other hand, means ‘about, close to’, so that, for example, 差不多都 in 2 below can be 90%.

1 外面的雨很大，我差一點來不了。

Wàimiàn de yǔ hěn dà, wǒ chàyìdiǎn láibùliǎo.

It’s pouring outside. I almost couldn’t get here.

2 他昨天告訴我的事情，我差不多都忘了。

Tā zuótiān gàosù wǒ de shìqíng, wǒ chàbùduō dōu wàng le.

I've forgotten just about everything he told me yesterday.