Introduction
有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) means "a bit" — and it always comes with a small complaint attached. 这个有点儿贵。(Zhège yǒudiǎnr guì.) — This is a bit (too) expensive. It goes before the adjective, which is exactly where beginners put its look-alike 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr) by mistake.
Overview
Structure: Subj. + 有(一)点(儿) (yǒu (yì) diǎnr) + Adj.
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Subj + 有点儿 + Adj | 我有点儿累。(Wǒ yǒudiǎnr lèi.) | I'm a bit tired. |
| Subj + 有点儿 + 不 + Adj | 我有点儿不舒服。(Wǒ yǒudiǎnr bù shūfu.) | I feel a bit unwell. |
| Subj + 有点儿 + Verb of feeling | 我有点儿想家。(Wǒ yǒudiǎnr xiǎng jiā.) | I'm a little homesick. |
| Adj + 一点儿（comparison） | 便宜一点儿 (piányi yìdiǎnr) | a bit cheaper |
| 太 + Adj + 了 | 太贵了 (tài guì le) | far too expensive |
有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) before the adjective; 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr) after it:
- 这个有点儿贵。(Zhège yǒudiǎnr guì.) — This is a bit too expensive. A complaint.
- 便宜一点儿，好吗？(Piányi yìdiǎnr, hǎo ma?) — A bit cheaper, please? A request or comparison.
- ❌ 这个一点儿贵。(Zhège yìdiǎnr guì.) — The most common HSK 1 mistake in this area.
- The degree ladder: 不太贵 (bú tài guì) → 有点儿贵 (yǒudiǎnr guì) → 很贵 (hěn guì) → 太贵了 (tài guì le).
Examples
我有点儿累。
Wǒ yǒudiǎnr lèi.
I'm a bit tired.
这个菜有点儿辣。
Zhège cài yǒudiǎnr là.
This dish is a bit too spicy.
今天有点儿冷。
Jīntiān yǒudiǎnr lěng.
It's a little cold today.
我有点儿不舒服。
Wǒ yǒudiǎnr bù shūfu.
I'm not feeling too well.
这儿有点儿远，我们坐车吧。
Zhèr yǒudiǎnr yuǎn, wǒmen zuò chē ba.
It's a bit far, let's take the bus.
他说得有点儿快。
Tā shuō de yǒudiǎnr kuài.
He speaks a bit too fast.
Usage Notes
- 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) only takes unwanted qualities: 累 (lèi) tired, 贵 (guì) expensive, 难 (nán) hard, 冷 (lěng) cold. ❌ 有点儿漂亮 (yǒudiǎnr piàoliang) — for something good, use 很 (hěn).
- The full form is 有一点儿 (yǒu yìdiǎnr); in speech the 一 (yī) almost always drops, leaving 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr).
- The 儿 (ér) ending is northern. In the south and in writing you will see 有点 (yǒudiǎn) with no 儿.
- 有点儿 can stand in front of a negative adjective phrase: 有点儿不高兴 (yǒudiǎnr bù gāoxìng) — a little upset.
- Compare with 一点儿 as a quantity: 我要一点儿水。(Wǒ yào yìdiǎnr shuǐ.) — I'd like a little water. There it is a noun modifier, not a degree word.