Instead of a flat command, adding 一點 yìdiǎn一点 yìdiǎn after “Verb + Adjective” turns it into a gentler request — the difference between “Speak slower” and “Speak a little slower.”
1 Structure
Normally, when a verb is followed by an adjective to describe how the action is done, 得 de得 de connects the two — for example 走得快走得快 (“walks fast”). But in an imperative sentence asking someone to do something differently, 得 de得 de is dropped, and 一點 yìdiǎn一点 yìdiǎn is added at the end instead.
V + Adj + 一點 yìdiǎn一点 yìdiǎn
This pattern turns a plain command into a softer, more reasonable-sounding request.
說慢一點说慢一点
Speak a little slower.
你開慢一點你开慢一点
Drive a little slower.
你的字，寫好看一點你的字，写好看一点
Make your handwriting a bit nicer.
今天放假，你睡久一點沒關係今天放假，你睡久一点没关系
It’s a day off today, so it’s okay to sleep a little longer.
我們得走快一點，快遲到了我们得走快一点，快迟到了
We need to walk faster; we’re almost late.
吃快一點，不然飯就涼了吃快一点，不然饭就凉了
Eat a little faster, or the food will get cold.
你笑開心一點，畢業後我們還是可以常見面啊你笑开心一点，毕业后我们还是可以常见面啊
Smile a bit happier; we can still see each other often after graduation.
Why drop 得 de得 de?
In a plain statement like 他走得很快他走得很快 (“He walks fast”), 得 de得 de links the verb to a description of how the action is performed. But an imperative isn’t describing an action — it’s requesting a change to it — so 得 de得 de is left out for simplicity.
2 Common Mistakes
Because 得 de得 de is so closely tied to Verb+Adjective phrases, learners often add it back into the imperative pattern by habit.
❌
你走快得一點你走快得一点
✅
你走快一點你走快一点
得 de得 de only appears in descriptive sentences about how an action is done — it has no place in the “V + Adj + 一點 yìdiǎn一点 yìdiǎn” command pattern. Adding it back makes the sentence ungrammatical.
3 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01Please sit a little closer.
你坐近一點你坐近一点
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02Cut it a little smaller.
你切小一點你切小一点
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03Sing a little louder.
你唱大聲一點你唱大声一点
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04Run a little slower and wait for me.
你跑慢一點，等等我你跑慢一点，等等我
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05Dress a bit warmer; it’s cold outside.
你穿暖一點，外面很冷你穿暖一点，外面很冷
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06Come a little earlier tomorrow.
你明天來早一點你明天来早一点
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07Drink a bit more slowly; don’t rush.
你喝慢一點，別急你喝慢一点，别急
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08Think it through a bit more clearly.
你想清楚一點你想清楚一点
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