adv.
a bit; somewhat; slightly
有点儿
a bit; somewhat; slightly
Adverb meaning 'a little bit' or 'somewhat' (有 have + 点儿 spot/dot); usually precedes adjectives to express slight annoyance: 有点儿冷.
Common Usage & Traps
- 有点儿贵 — a bit expensive
- 有点儿累 — a bit tired
- 有点儿忙 — a bit busy
- 有点儿太贵了 — a bit too expensive
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有点儿水喝一点儿水 / 有点儿渴有点儿 describes a quality, not an amount, so it cannot go before a noun.
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今天一点儿累今天有点儿累一点儿 cannot go before adjectives like 累. It follows adjectives for comparison or goes before nouns for quantity.
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她有点儿漂亮她挺漂亮 / 她非常漂亮有点儿 often hints at a small problem, so it turns praise into faint praise.
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太有点儿贵有点儿太贵了 / 太贵了有点儿 must come before the adjective phrase. 太 cannot jump in front of 有点儿.
Why can you say 有点儿累 but not 今天一点儿累 or 有点儿水?
有点儿 goes before bad adjectives; 一点儿 follows adjectives or goes before nouns.
有点儿 goes before an adjective and usually adds a small complaint. 一点儿 goes after an adjective for comparison, or before a noun for a small amount. So 有点儿累 means you feel a bit tired. 今天一点儿累 is wrong because 一点儿 cannot sit before 累. If you want water, say 喝一点儿水, never 有点儿水. If you want faster, say 快一点儿, not 快有点儿.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Before adjective | 有点儿累 | 一点儿累 |
| After adjective | 快一点儿 | 快有点儿 |
| Before noun | 一点儿水 | 有点儿水 |
| Tired today | 今天有点儿累 | 今天一点儿累 |
Can 有点儿 make a compliment, like 她有点儿漂亮?
Usually no: 有点儿 sounds like a small complaint, so it can turn praise into faint praise.
有点儿 often signals a small problem, not a neutral amount. 有点儿贵 means it costs more than you want to pay. 有点儿累 means you feel tired and want a break. If you say 她有点儿漂亮, it can sound like she is pretty, but not that pretty. For real praise, say 她挺漂亮 or 她非常漂亮. 有点儿喜欢 can work when your feelings are mixed or not strong.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Mild complaint | 这件衣服有点儿贵 | 这件衣服一点儿贵 |
| Pure praise | 她挺漂亮 | 她有点儿漂亮 |
| Soft like | 我有点儿喜欢他 | 我有点儿爱他 |
Is 有点儿太贵了 a mistake or real Mandarin?
Real Mandarin: 有点儿太贵了 means a bit too expensive, and natives say it.
Textbooks sometimes call 有点儿太贵了 redundant because both words add degree. In daily Mandarin, it is common and sounds completely normal. It means the price is over your comfort line, but not shocking. If you want a clean textbook phrase, say 有点儿贵 or 太贵了. If you want to sound like a native, 有点儿太贵了 is fine in casual talk.
“我的男友说：“那个桌子和椅子有点儿太贵了。”” (My boyfriend said, "That table and chairs are a bit too expensive.")
“我的男友说：“那个桌子和椅子有点儿太贵了。”” (My boyfriend said, "That table and chairs are a bit too expensive.")
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Natural order | 有点儿太贵了 | 太有点儿贵了 |
| Clean version | 有点儿贵 | 有点儿太贵了 (strict teachers call it redundant) |
| Strong complaint | 太贵了 | 有点儿太贵了 (too weak for extreme prices) |
Appears in Stories 3 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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挂了电话，小李看着窗外，心里 有点儿 难过。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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路上他接了个电话，语气一下子变了，变得 有点儿 凶。
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
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我的男友说：“那个桌子和椅子 有点儿 太贵了。
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