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Summary: Learn how to use 几乎 (jīhū), a fundamental Chinese adverb meaning “almost” or “nearly.” This comprehensive guide covers its core meaning, cultural nuances, and practical usage with over 10 example sentences. Discover the key difference between 几乎 (jīhū) and 差不多 (chàbuduō) to avoid common mistakes and speak more like a native.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): jīhū
Part of Speech: Adverb
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: It indicates that something is very close to happening or being a certain way, but isn't completely.
In a Nutshell:几乎 (jīhū) is your go-to word when you want to express “almost” or “nearly.” Think of it as reaching 99% of a goal. You're incredibly close, but that final 1% is missing. It's used to describe actions that were on the verge of happening, quantities that are close to a total, or states that are nearly true.
Character Breakdown
几 (jī): While commonly known as “how many?”, one of its classical and core meanings is “almost” or “a small amount.” It hints at proximity or a near-state. Think of it as the “nearly there” part of the word.
乎 (hū): This is a classical grammatical particle, often functioning like “at,” “in,” or “on.” In modern Chinese, it's mostly found in set words. Here, it completes the adverbial sense of 几, turning “almost” into a solid, usable adverb, “in the state of being almost.”
Together, 几乎 (jīhū) literally means something like “in a state of being almost,” which perfectly captures its function of describing a near-miss or a near-total state.
Cultural Context and Significance
While 几乎 (jīhū) is a simple adverb, its frequent use can reflect a subtle aspect of Chinese communication: a preference for modesty and avoiding absolutes. In situations where a Western speaker might make a strong, absolute claim like “Everyone loved the food,” a Chinese speaker might prefer the softer, more humble “几乎所有人都喜欢这道菜” (jīhū suǒyǒu rén dōu xǐhuān zhè dào cài), which means “Almost everyone liked this dish.”
This isn't about being intentionally vague; it's about making statements that are less confrontational and leave room for exception. Using “all” (都 dōu) or “every” (每个 měige) can sound overly strong or even arrogant in some contexts. 几乎 (jīhū) provides a precise way to describe a high degree of something without making a 100% claim, which is often perceived as more objective and considerate. It's a small linguistic habit that aligns with the broader cultural value of maintaining harmony and avoiding overstatement.
Practical Usage in Modern China
几乎 (jīhū) is extremely common in both spoken and written Chinese. It's a versatile adverb used across all registers, from casual chat to formal news reports.
Describing Quantities: It's frequently paired with words like 都 (dōu), 所有 (suǒyǒu), or 每 (měi) to mean “almost all” or “almost every.”
e.g., 几乎所有的学生都通过了考试。 (Almost all students passed the exam.)
Describing Actions (Near-Misses): It's used to talk about things that were on the verge of happening but didn't. This is often used for accidents or mistakes that were narrowly avoided.
e.g., 我今天早上几乎迟到了。(I was almost late this morning.)
Describing States and Feelings: It can describe a state that is very close to being true.
e.g., 我累得几乎走不动了。(I was so tired I could almost not walk.)
Negative Form: Used with 不 (bù) or 没 (méi), it means “hardly” or “almost never.”
English: I have almost finished this task, only the last little bit is left.
Analysis: This emphasizes that the task is at a very high state of completion (e.g., 99% done). It highlights the small remaining part.
Example 3:
昨天音乐会的票几乎都卖完了。
Pinyin: Zuótiān yīnyuèhuì de piào jīhū dōu mài wán le.
English: The tickets for yesterday's concert were almost all sold out.
Analysis: A classic combination, 几乎都 (jīhū dōu), is used to express “almost all.” It's more precise than saying “many” and more modest than saying “all.”
Example 4:
他感动得几乎要哭了。
Pinyin: Tā gǎndòng de jīhū yào kū le.
English: He was so moved he almost cried.
Analysis: 几乎 is used to describe an emotional state that is on the verge of a physical reaction (crying).
Example 5:
这两个手机型号看起来几乎一模一样。
Pinyin: Zhè liǎng ge shǒujī xínghào kànqǐlái jīhū yìmú yíyàng.
English: These two phone models look almost exactly the same.
Analysis: 几乎 modifies the phrase “exactly the same” (一模一样), indicating a very high degree of similarity but acknowledging a tiny, perhaps unnoticeable, difference.
Example 6:
我在车站等了几乎一个小时。
Pinyin: Wǒ zài chēzhàn děngle jīhū yí ge xiǎoshí.
English: I waited at the station for almost an hour.
Analysis: This shows 几乎 used with a duration of time. It means the time was very close to an hour, like 58 or 59 minutes.
Example 7:
在中国，几乎每个人都有微信。
Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, jīhū měi ge rén dōu yǒu Wēixìn.
English: In China, almost everyone has WeChat.
Analysis: This is a statement of high probability and observation. It's a factual claim that avoids the inaccuracy of an absolute “everyone.”
Example 8:
地面很滑，我几乎摔倒了。
Pinyin: Dìmiàn hěn huá, wǒ jīhū shuāidǎo le.
English: The ground was very slippery, I almost fell down.
Analysis: This describes a near-miss event. The falling action was imminent but was avoided at the last second. 差点儿 (chàdiǎnr) could also be used here.
Example 9:
他忙得几乎没有时间吃饭。
Pinyin: Tā máng de jīhū méiyǒu shíjiān chīfàn.
English: He is so busy he has almost no time to eat.
Analysis: This emphasizes the extreme lack of time. It's a very strong way of saying “he has very, very little time.”
Example 10:
我几乎不相信自己的眼睛。
Pinyin: Wǒ jīhū bù xiāngxìn zìjǐ de yǎnjīng.
English: I almost couldn't believe my own eyes.
Analysis: This is an expression of great surprise or shock. The feeling of disbelief is so strong that it's close to being total.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
几乎 (jīhū) vs. 差不多 (chàbuduō): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
几乎 (jīhū): Emphasizes being *very close* to a point but *not reaching it*. It highlights the small gap. It's often used for things that didn't happen (I almost fell) or are nearly 100% (almost everyone). It's more of a precise “99%”.
差不多 (chàbuduō): Means “more or less,” “about,” or “good enough.” It's used for general approximations and similarities. It implies the difference is negligible and the result can be considered sufficient. It's more of a general “around” or “close enough.”
Incorrect Usage: A student says: “我的中文几乎好。” (My Chinese is almost good.)
Why it's wrong: This sounds strange. 几乎 implies you're 99% of the way to “good,” but not quite there, which is an odd way to describe language ability.
Correct Usage: “我的中文差不多。” (My Chinese is so-so / okay.) OR “我的中文还可以。” (My Chinese is alright.)
A Clear Example:
我几乎完成了。(I almost finished.) → Implies I did not finish.
我差不多完成了。(I've more or less finished.) → Implies it's basically done and can be considered complete.
Using with negatives: Remember that 几乎不 (jīhū bù) or 几乎没 (jīhū méi) means “hardly ever” or “almost never,” not “almost didn't.” For “almost didn't,” you would use 差点儿没 (chàdiǎnr méi).
Related Terms and Concepts
差不多 (chàbuduō) - A key synonym meaning “more or less,” “about,” or “good enough.” It's more for approximation and sufficiency, whereas 几乎 is for near-completion.
差点儿 (chàdiǎnr) - Very similar to 几乎, often interchangeable when describing a negative event that was narrowly avoided (e.g., almost fell, almost was late). Can carry a stronger sense of relief or regret.
快要 (kuàiyào)…了 (le) - Means “about to” or “soon.” It focuses on an event that is imminent in the future, while 几乎 describes a state that is already close to a threshold.
大概 (dàgài) - Means “probably” or “approximately.” Used for estimations and guesses, implying more uncertainty than 差不多 or 几乎.
左右 (zuǒyòu) - Placed after a number to mean “around” or “about” (e.g., 十点左右 - around 10 o'clock). It's used specifically for numerical approximation.
都 (dōu) - Means “all” or “both.” It is very frequently used together with 几乎 in the pattern 几乎都 to mean “almost all.”