In this HSK 3 video lesson we'll learn how to say "A Little Bit" in Chinese with 一点 and 一点儿. We'll also learn how to say "a little bit + adj." with 有(一)点 and 有(一)点儿.

(一)点/(一)点儿 + n. (phrase)
有(一)点/有(一)点儿 + Predicate

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GRAMMAR

Grammar 1. (一)点 / (一)点儿 + 名词短语

(yì) diǎn / (yì) diǎnr + míngcí (duǎnyǔ) ▸ A Little Bit + N.(Phrase)

(1) Measure Word 点

Measure Word 点 (diǎn) can be used to measure "不多的一些", which can be translated as "a little bit; a small amount".

Measure Word 点 (diǎn) can be used to measure:

something abstract
something physical, but DOES NOT have (1) a CONSISTENT shape or (2) a FIXED measure word. Because Measure Words are usually related to shape.

(2) (一)点 / (一)点儿 + N. (Phrase)

We can use this structure to say "a little bit of + n. (phrase)". In this structure:

点 is a Measure Word that suggests "a little bit; a small amount"
儿 is used in colloquial language
the number 一 can be omitted

So there are four ways to use this structure:

一点 + n. (phrase)
一点儿 + n. (phrase)
点 + n. (phrase)
点儿 + n. (phrase)

☑ See also 一些 vs 些.

(3) (一)点 / (一)点儿 + Abstract Noun

chū le yì diǎn wèntí
出了(一)点问题
to have appeared a little bit (of) problem
tīngdào yì diǎnr shēngyīn
听到(一)点儿声音
to hear a little bit (of) sound
shēngguo yì diǎn bìng
生过(一)点病
to have got a little bit (of) sickness
zuò guo yì diǎnr gōngzuò
做(一)点儿工作
to do a little bit (of) work

(4) (一)点 / (一)点儿 + Physical Noun (-no consistent shape -no fixed measure word)

chī yì diǎn miànbāo
吃(一)点面包
to eat a little bit (of) bread
fàng yì diǎnr yángròu
放(一)点儿羊肉
to put in a little bit (of) lamb meat
hē yì diǎn chá
喝(一)点茶
to drink a little bit (of) tea
ná yì diǎnr yán
拿(一)点儿盐
to grab a little bit (of) salt

Grammar 2. A + 有(一)点 / 有(一)点儿 + B

A + yǒu (yì) diǎn / yǒu (yì) diǎnr + B ▸ A (is) “to the extent of” a little bit B

☑ See also 有 (yǒu ▸ to reach (the evaluation of...).

(1) Subject + 有(一)点/有(一)点儿 + Predicate

In a sentence, the grammatical structure is as above. In this structure:

“有” here means "reaches the evaluation of"
The Predicate
1. is usually an adj. (phrase)
2. is sometimes a verb (phrase)

(2) 有(一)点 / 有(一)点儿 + adj. (phrase)

Zhèyàng de xuéxí xíguàn yǒu yì diǎn chà.
这样的学习习惯有一点差。
Study habits (like) this (are) “a little bit” bad.
Zhè dào shùxué tí yǒu (yì) diǎn tài nán le, wǒ bú huì zuò.
这道数学题有(一)点太难了，我不会做。
This “dao” (of) math test-question (is) “a little bit” too difficult, I (do) not know how to do (it).
Zhè ge xínglixiāng yǐjīng yǒu yì diǎnr jiù le.
这个行李箱已经有一点儿旧了。
This “ge” suitcase (is) already “to the extent of” “a little bit” old (already).

(2) 有(一)点 / 有(一)点儿 + v. (phrase)

Nǐ hùzhào shang de zì zěnme yǒu (yì) diǎn kàn bu qīngchu?
你护照上的字怎么有(一)点看不清楚？
How come (the) characters (on) your passport-surface (are) “a little bit” not-able-to-be seen clear(ly)?
Jǐ tiān bú jiàn, wǒ yǒu diǎnr xiǎng tā.
几天不见，我有点儿想他。
(For) a few days not see (him), I (for) "a little bit" miss him.
Tā shuō de nà xiē huà , wǒ yǒu yì diǎnr bù xiāngxìn.
他说的那些话，我有一点儿不相信。
Those words (that) he said, I (for) "a little bit" not believe (them).