Almost in Chinese – jīhū

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 幾几乎 jīhū means “almost” or “nearly” in English. It is used to describe that something is close to completion, close to a certain state, or almost reaching a specific condition or outcome.

Structure

S + jīhū + V + O or Complement

幾几乎 jīhū is often used in conjunction with words that denote “all” (such as 每 měi, 所有 suǒyǒu, or 全 quán) or “none” (like 没有 méiyǒu) to express the idea of “almost all” or “almost none” in a sentence.

這裡zhèlǐ平日píngrì幾乎jīhū沒有méiyǒu人rén这里zhèlǐ平日píngrì几乎jīhū没有méiyǒu人rén
There are almost no people here on weekdays.

爸爸bàba的de頭tóu幾乎jīhū都dōu要yào禿tū了le爸爸bàba的de头tóu几乎jīhū都dōu要yào秃tū了le
Dad is almost going bald.

我wǒ每天měitiān幾乎jīhū都dōu不bù超過chāoguò11 點diǎn睡覺shuìjiào我wǒ每天měitiān几乎jīhū都dōu不bù超过chāoguò11 点diǎn睡觉shuìjiào
I almost never sleep past 11 o’clock every day.

你nǐ也yě太tài會huì買mǎi了le， 你nǐ一天yìtiān的de開銷kāixiāo幾乎jīhū是shì我wǒ一個月yígeyuè的de了le你nǐ也yě太tài会huì买mǎi了le， 你nǐ一天yìtiān的de开销kāixiāo几乎jīhū是shì我wǒ一个月yígeyuè的de了le
You’re really good at spending money; your daily expenses are almost equivalent to my monthly ones.

這zhè餐廳cāntīng也yě太tài坑人kēngrén了le吧ba！ 幾乎jīhū比bǐ五星wǔxīng飯店fàndiàn貴guì了le这zhè餐厅cāntīng也yě太tài坑人kēngrén了le吧ba！ 几乎jīhū比bǐ五星wǔxīng酒店jiǔdiàn贵guì了le
This restaurant is way too expensive! It’s almost more expensive than a five-star hotel.

在zài台灣Táiwān幾乎jīhū每měi條tiáo路lù上shàng都dōu有yǒu便利商店biànlìshāngdiàn在zài台湾Táiwān几乎jīhū每měi条tiáo路lù上shàng都dōu有yǒu便利商店biànlìshāngdiàn
In Taiwan, there’s almost a convenience store on every street.

FYI
Convenience stores are widespread in Taiwan and have seamlessly integrated into Taiwanese daily life. These stores offer a wide array of services beyond the usual, like purchasing train tickets, getting freshly brewed bubble tea or coffee, sending packages, paying bills, laundry services, and mailing items. Moreover, the food they provide is not only nutritious but also remarkably different from the typical fare found in convenience stores elsewhere.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️In Taiwan, almost everyone knows him.

在zài台灣Táiwān幾乎jīhū沒有méiyǒu人rén不bú認識rènshì他tā在zài台湾Táiwān几乎jīhū没有méiyǒu人rén不bú认识rènshi他tā

✔️ Have you almost not spoken Chinese in these past few weeks?

你nǐ這zhè幾個jǐge禮拜lǐbài幾乎jīhū都dōu沒méi說shuō中文zhōngwén對duì嗎ma？ 你nǐ这zhè几个jǐge礼拜lǐbài几乎jīhū都dōu没méi说shuō中文zhōngwén对duì吗ma？

✔️ I almost forgot all my Chinese.

我wǒ幾乎jīhū把bǎ中文zhōngwén忘wàng光guāng了le我wǒ几乎jīhū把bǎ中文zhōngwén忘wàng光guāng了le