Lessons 19, 23, 28: Degree: 太……了, 又……又……, 一点儿 and 有(一)点儿

Ways of expressing degree and comparison when giving an opinion: too, both…and…, a little more, a bit.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 19 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 23 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 28

这件羽绒服又好又便宜。

Zhè jiàn yǔróngfú yòu hǎo yòu piányi.

This down jacket is both good and cheap.

Explanation

The structure "太 + adjective + 了" shows an excessive degree or a high degree. An excessive degree shows dissatisfaction (太大了！太小了！太肥了！太瘦了！), while a high degree shows praise or admiration (太好了！太合适了！).

"又……又……" links parallel adjectives, verbs, verb phrases or adjective phrases, showing that two situations or states exist at the same time.

"一点儿" can be an attributive. When "一点儿" comes after an adjective, it shows comparison. "有(一)点儿" is an adverbial placed before an adjective, and is mostly used for things that are not as one would like. You cannot say: 这件羽绒服有点儿合适。

"Adjective + 了(一)点儿" shows that, compared with a certain standard, the degree is not suitable, and expresses dissatisfaction.

Structure

1
太形容词了
An excessive degree (dissatisfaction) or a high degree (praise, admiration).
- 太大了！
  Tài dà le!
  Too big!
- 太小了！
  Tài xiǎo le!
  Too small!
- 太肥了！
  Tài féi le!
  Too loose!
- 太瘦了！
  Tài shòu le!
  Too tight!
- 太好了！
  Tài hǎo le!
  Fantastic!
- 太合适了！
  Tài héshì le!
  Just right!
2
又A又B
A and B are parallel adjectives, verbs, verb phrases or adjective phrases; two situations or states exist at the same time.
- 这件羽绒服又好又便宜。
  Zhè jiàn yǔróngfú yòu hǎo yòu piányi.
  This down jacket is both good and cheap.
- 我们教室又安静又干净。
  Wǒmen jiàoshì yòu ānjìng yòu gānjìng.
  Our classroom is both quiet and clean.
- 那个箱子又小又旧。
  Nàge xiāngzi yòu xiǎo yòu jiù.
  That suitcase is both small and old.
- 他去银行又取钱又换钱。
  Tā qù yínháng yòu qǔ qián yòu huàn qián.
  He went to the bank both to withdraw money and to exchange money.
- 又高又大！
  Yòu gāo yòu dà!
  Both tall and big!
3
(一)点儿N / 形容词一点儿
"一点儿" can be an attributive; or, placed after an adjective, it shows comparison.
- 他会一点儿汉语。
  Tā huì yìdiǎnr Hànyǔ.
  He knows a little Chinese.
- 请给我（一）点儿啤酒吧。
  Qǐng gěi wǒ (yì) diǎnr píjiǔ ba.
  Give me a little beer, please.
- 有没有长一点儿的？
  Yǒu méiyǒu cháng yìdiǎnr de?
  Do you have one that's a bit longer?
- 那件颜色有点儿深，我要浅一点儿的。
  Nà jiàn yánsè yǒudiǎnr shēn, wǒ yào qiǎn yìdiǎnr de.
  That one is a bit dark in color; I'd like one a bit lighter.
4
有(一)点儿形容词
"有(一)点儿" is an adverbial before an adjective, mostly used for things that are not as one would like.
- 这件有（一）点儿长。（也可以说：这件有一点儿短。）
  Zhè jiàn yǒu (yì) diǎnr cháng. (Yě kěyǐ shuō: Zhè jiàn yǒu yìdiǎnr duǎn.)
  This one is a bit long. (You can also say: This one is a bit short.)
- 这件颜色有（一）点儿深，有没有浅一点儿的。
  Zhè jiàn yánsè yǒu (yì) diǎnr shēn, yǒu méiyǒu qiǎn yìdiǎnr de.
  This one is a bit dark in color; do you have one a bit lighter?
- 这件羽绒服有点儿不合适。（不说：这件羽绒服有点儿合适。）
  Zhè jiàn yǔróngfú yǒudiǎnr bù héshì. (Bù shuō: Zhè jiàn yǔróngfú yǒudiǎnr héshì.)
  This down jacket is a bit unsuitable. (Don't say: 有点儿合适.)
5
形容词了(一)点儿
Compared with a certain standard, the degree is unsuitable; expresses dissatisfaction.
- 这种毛衣五百块一件，贵了点儿。
  Zhè zhǒng máoyī wǔ bǎi kuài yí jiàn, guì le diǎnr.
  This kind of sweater is five hundred yuan apiece, which is a bit expensive.
- 这个语法难了点儿。
  Zhège yǔfǎ nán le diǎnr.
  This grammar is a bit difficult.

Common mistakes

~~这件羽绒服有点儿合适~~
合适 is something desirable, so say 有点儿不合适
~~这课课文一点儿难~~
这课课文有点儿难
~~这件衣服一点儿深颜色~~
这件衣服颜色深一点儿
~~今天的天气一点儿冷~~
今天的天气有点儿冷

Practice

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