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Approximations with 差不多 ("cha1bu4duo1")

差不多 chàbuduō

Adverb
HSK 2

Structure

Subj. + 差不多 A + 跟 / 和 + B + 差不多 差不多 + Adj. / Verb 差不多 ＋ [Quantity Phrase] / [Time Phrase]

Translations

  • almost

Definition

差不多表示几乎、将近、相差不多的意思，用于表示数量、程度或相似性上的近似。

差不多 means 'almost', 'nearly', or 'more or less', used to indicate approximation in quantity, degree, or resemblance.

Usage

差不多可以作为副词或形容词使用。作副词时，常放在数量词前表示大约；作形容词时，可作谓语表示几乎相同或差不多。也可以表示‘足够’或‘可以’的意思。

差不多 can be used as an adverb or adjective. As an adverb, it often precedes quantifiers to indicate 'approximately'. As an adjective, it can serve as a predicate meaning 'almost the same' or 'not far off'. It can also mean 'enough' or 'adequate' in some contexts.

Examples

  • 1 现在差不多九点了，我们快走吧。 (It's almost nine o'clock now, let's hurry.)
  • 2 这两个颜色的差不多，很难区分。 (These two colors are almost the same, hard to tell apart.)
  • 3 我差不多完成了作业，只剩下最后一道题。 (I'm almost done with homework, only the last question left.)
  • 4 他差不多有一米八高。 (He is about 1.8 meters tall.)
  • 5 这顿饭差不多够三个人吃了。 (This meal is more or less enough for three people.)

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