A 跟 B 差不多
HSK 3- Comparison
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure A 跟 B 差不多 is used to compare two things or situations that are roughly equivalent or nearly the same in degree.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
差不多 means 'roughly the same', 'almost alike'. This structure is used to compare two people or things that are similar in some respect (age, height, price, etc.) but not exactly identical.
If there is a modifying adjective or verb, it is placed at the end of the sentence, after 差不多.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我的想法跟你的差不多。Wǒ de xiǎngfǎ gēn nǐ de chàbuduō.
My thoughts are pretty much the same as yours.
- 这两个手机的价格差不多。繁: 這兩個手機的價格差不多。Zhè liǎng ge shǒujī de jiàgé chàbuduō.
The prices of these two phones are nearly the same.
- 他跟他哥哥差不多高。Tā gēn tā gēge chàbuduō gāo.
He is nearly as tall as his older brother.
- 越南咖啡跟巴西咖啡差不多好喝。Yuènán kāfēi gēn Bāxī kāfēi chàbuduō hǎohē.
Vietnamese coffee is nearly as delicious as Brazilian coffee.
- 我跟你差不多大。Wǒ gēn nǐ chàbuduō dà.
We are about the same age.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我你差不多大。Correct:我跟你差不多大。
Must use the preposition `跟` to connect two objects being compared. Cannot omit `跟`.
- Wrong:他高跟他哥哥差不多。Correct:他跟他哥哥差不多高。
Adjectives (here `高`) must come after `差不多`, not before.