点儿 (yì diǎnr) or有点儿 (yǒu diǎnr)

1 December 2015

yì diǎnr一点儿 and yǒu diǎnr有点儿 have the same meaning in English, but not in Mandarin Chinese.

ì dianr 点儿

Rule 1. yì dianr 点儿 - can be put after a verb, before a noun; it is used to quantify nouns meaning ‘some’. For example 我想喝一点儿水 woxiang he yì dianr shui. I want to drink a bit of water.

Rule 2. yì dianr 点儿 - can be put after an adjective; it’s used to quantify description. For example 他比你高一点儿 Ta bi ni gao yì dianr. - He is taller than you by a little.

Rule 3. yì dianr 点儿 - can be put after an adjective before a verb to quantify the speed. For example 快一点儿走 Kuài yì dianr zou. - Walk a little faster.

you dianr???

Rule 1. you dianr 有点儿 - is put before an adjective to modify a description. For example 我有点儿渴 Wo you dianr ke? - I’m a little bit thirsty. 今天有点儿冷 Jintian you dianr leng. - It’s a little bit cold today.

Rule 2. you dianr 有点儿 - express something unsatisfactory. The adjective after it often has a derogatory or negative meaning.

What is the right word for each sentence?

Wo è, wo xiang chi fàn. 我______饿,我 想 吃______ 饭. (I am a little bit hungry, I want to eat a bit of cooked rice.)

Jintian bi zuótian leng. 今天 比 昨天 冷 ______. (It's a bit colder today than yesterday.)

Jintian xià yu,ni màn kai che. 今天 下雨,你 慢______开 车. (It's raining today; drive a little slower.)

Answer: 1. 有点儿 (you dianr) ; 点儿 (yì dianr) 2. 点儿 (yì dianr) 3. 点儿 (yì dianr)

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