Grammar Point:
差不多 chàbuduō expresses the idea of “not much difference” or “almost the same.” It is often used to describe a situation where two things or situations are very similar or nearly identical.
Structure
S1 + (and + S2) + 差不多
Verb – It general means “about the same” in English.
我們的年紀差不多我们的年纪差不多
Our ages are about the same.
我現在的薪水和十年前差不多我现在的薪水和十年前差不多😭
My current salary is about the same as ten years ago.
夜市裡賣的東西都差不多夜市里卖的东西都差不多
The things sold at the night market are about the same.
你們來台灣的時間差不多,都是8月你们来台湾的时间差不多,都是8月
You all came to Taiwan around the same time, all in August.
V + 得 + 差不多 + 了
Verb complement – It means “almost finished” in English.
我們吃得差不多了,可以買單了我们吃得差不多了,可以买单了
We’re almost done eating, we can ask for the bill now.
我的工作,做得差不多了我的工作,做得差不多了
I’m almost done with my work.
你準備得差不多了嗎?你准备得差不多了吗?
Are you almost ready?
要拜拜的東西,我們買得差不多了要拜拜的东西,我们买得差不多了
We’ve almost bought everything we need for the offering.
FYI
Taiwan’s 拜拜 bàibài culture is widely practiced and holds significant importance as a traditional custom for many Taiwanese people. 拜拜 bàibài is a ritual used to show respect, seek blessings, or commemorate deceased loved ones. In Taiwan, 拜拜 bàibài is typically conducted at temples, shrines, altars, or gravesites. Apart from ancestral worship within families, Taiwanese individuals often engage in public 拜拜 bàibài activities on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month. People bring offerings such as incense, candles, fruits, fresh flowers, and paper money. They then light the incense and candles, kneel before deities or ancestors, and express their wishes or gratitude.
S + 差不多 + V or SV
Adverb – It means “about” or “approximately” in English.
我差不多五點會到你家我差不多五点会到你家
I will arrive at your house around five o’clock.
我們差不多在一起半年了我们差不多在一起半年了
We’ve been together for almost half a year.
佛羅里達的夏天和台灣的夏天差不多熱佛罗里达的夏天和台湾的夏天差不多热
The summer in Florida is almost as hot as the summer in Taiwan.
從這裡到車站,差不多要走十分鐘从这儿到车站,差不多要走十分钟
It takes about ten minutes to walk from here to the station.
Conversation
In informal conversations, 差不多 chàbuduō can also be used to mean “kind of” or “more or less” when someone is asking for a specific quantity or result.
A:要走了嗎?要走了吗?
Are you leaving now?
B:差不多了差不多了
Almost.
A:你習慣北京的生活了嗎?你习惯北京的生活了吗?
Have you adapted to life in Beijing?
B:差不多了差不多了
More or less.
Note: The tones of “chabuduo” in Taiwan textbooks are always marked as “chàbùduō”; however, in real conversations, people always say “chābùduō.”
Practice
TouchHover over the space to see the answers.
✔️ The coffee at this cafe is similar to what I’ve had abroad.
這家咖啡店的咖啡和我在國外喝過的差不多这家咖啡店的咖啡和我在国外喝过的差不多
✔️ I’ve had enough of wandering around. Let’s go back home.
我逛得差不多了,我們回家吧我逛得差不多了,我们回家吧
✔️ We should be about to leave.
我們差不多該出發了我们差不多该出发了