几乎 (nearly, almost)
IntroducedCheck an almost-full group
- Most of a class have phones, but a few do not.
- almost几乎每个person人all都has有a phone手机。 — almost几乎 makes the claim almost universal rather than fully universal.
Most of a class have phones, but a few do not. What does 几乎每个人都有手机。 communicate?
几乎 makes the claim almost universal rather than fully universal. 几乎 can also precede an event without 都 or a negative, as in 我几乎忘了. Keep the scope clear: 几乎都知道 is almost all know, while 几乎不知道 is hardly know.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is almost几乎 (nearly, almost). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
almost几乎everyone每个人all都has有a phone手机。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Complete: ____ 每个人都有手机。(Almost everyone has a phone.)
几乎 … 都 = “almost all.”
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, almost几乎每个person人all都has有a phone手机。: almost几乎 makes the claim almost universal rather than fully universal.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Match each 几乎 combo to its meaning.
These combinations express almost all, almost none and hardly ever. 几乎 can also modify an event directly, as in 几乎忘了.
几乎 means …
几乎 stops just short of an extreme — “almost,” not “completely.”
Build: “Almost no one believes him.”
几乎 + 没有 → “almost none”: 几乎没有人相信他.
Know the boundary
- almost几乎 can also precede an event without all都 or a negative, as in I / me我almost几乎to forget忘(completed / change)了.
- Keep the scope clear: almost几乎all都to know知道 is almost all know, while almost几乎not不to know知道 is hardly know.
In the opening situation: 几乎 makes the claim almost universal rather than fully universal.
几乎 can also precede an event without 都 or a negative, as in 我几乎忘了. Keep the scope clear: 几乎都知道 is almost all know, while 几乎不知道 is hardly know. 几乎 makes the claim almost universal rather than fully universal.
Use the distinction
- almost几乎 makes the claim almost universal rather than fully universal.
- almost几乎 can also precede an event without all都 or a negative, as in I / me我almost几乎to forget忘(completed / change)了. Keep the scope clear: almost几乎all都to know知道 is almost all know, while almost几乎not不to know知道 is hardly know.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.
Most of a class have phones, but a few do not. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.