差一点儿: almost, but not quite

差一点儿 means “almost”, and the thing did not happen: 我差一点儿打破杯子 — the cup is fine; 他差一点儿赢了 — but he didn't win. The short form is 差点儿.

Examples

• 我差一点儿打破杯子。 Wǒ chà yìdiǎnr dǎpò bēizi. I almost broke the cup.
• 他差一点儿赢了。 Tā chà yìdiǎnr yíng le. He almost won.
• 我差一点儿忘了。 Wǒ chà yìdiǎnr wàng le. I almost forgot.

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