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有点儿 (yǒu diǎn r) — a little, somewhat

Definition

Used before adjectives to mean 'a little, somewhat' (often with a slightly negative feel, like 'a bit too cold'). Less formal than 稍微 and more common in everyday speech than 稍.

adverb
a littlesomewhat

Examples

  • 有点儿。
    Jīn tiān yǒu diǎn r lěng.
    It's a little cold today.
  • 有点儿。
    Wǒ yǒu diǎn r lèi.
    I'm a bit tired.
  • 有点儿。
    Zhè ge píng guǒ yǒu diǎn r guì.
    This apple is a bit expensive.

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.

有点have a little
有yǒuhave点diǎnpoint
动宾Verb + object
儿érdiminutive

有 and 点 express a small amount, and 儿 makes it lighter, hence slightly.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
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