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一点儿 (yī diǎn r) — a little; a bit (before a noun); (after an adjective) a bit more; (with 也/都 + negative) (not) at all

Definition

A small amount or slight degree, placed after an adjective for a modest comparison (this one's 好一点儿 'a bit better'). Some 一些 is used more for countable items, 一下 for a short duration after a verb.

quantifier
a littlea bit (before a noun)(after an adjective) a bit more(with 也/都 + negative) (not) at all

Examples

  • 一点儿。
    Wǒ yào hē yī diǎn r shuǐ.
    I want to drink a little water.
  • 一点儿。
    Zhè ge hǎo yī diǎn r.
    This one is a bit better.
  • 一点儿。
    Wǒ yī diǎn r yě bú rè.
    I am not hot at all.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

一点a bit
一yīone点diǎnpoint
偏正Modifier + head
儿érerhua

一点 means 'a bit'; the 儿 form is the common colloquial variant.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 儿 is a simple drawing of a standing person, used as an alternate form of the character for person.

Open 儿 →
Appears in
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