"你有点儿高。"
Translation:You are a bit tall.
59 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
1056
My initial feeling was for “You are quite tall”, which need not mean “very tall”. In British English I don’t think you would ever say “a bit tall” on its own, without a context. I’d not go so far as to say that “a bit tall” is wrong, but imo it’s not good English without a context. So, “Do you like driving that small car?” “No, I’m a bit tall”.
Just looking at someone and saying “ You’re a bit tall” might actually mean “You’re very tall!”!
1619
Many posts on the forum say 有点儿 means too much of something in a negative way. The natural English equivalent would be: "You are a bit too tall" or " you are a little too tall."
有点 is placed before an adjective, and while used for descriptions, it also expresses a tone of complaint by the speaker, or some other form of negative impression. It doesn't just mean "a bit," but rather "a bit too" (for the speaker's liking).
https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22youdian%22_and_%22yidian%22
However, Duo marked "you are a bit too tall" as wrong.
612
Yes, if you translate word for word. But this is not what languages are. Sometimes word for word does not make sense in the language being translated to. The meaning is "you are a bit too tall" and both "有点儿太高" and "有点儿高" happen to translate the same in English. "You are a bit tall" does not mean the same, if it barely means anything in English, for the matter
I agree with m.edres. "Quite" in this sentence might mean "very" but it could equally mean "a little". It depends on how you say it - ie what intonation you use. "Tall" could be used in a "down-up" tone in which case the word "quite" would mean "a small amount". Use a strong "down' tone on "tall" and quite would imply really tall.
119
I answered "...kind of tall." and of course was wrong. I would never say "a bit tall." and find it "a bit" strange as a native English speaker in the U.S.
119
"a bit" is not something I say or hear many Americans say. I answered "...somewhat tall." and was marked wrong.
1056
My point is, that “why” isn’t a helpful question. How does it work? OK - “You have the quality of tallness”.
1056
In British English it’s as normal to say “You have big feet” as “your feet are big”. So we have at least two ways of saying it.
1056
We just tend not to use the “you have” form for a whole body. I think we do when the type of body is qualified in some other way: “He had a tall, basketball player’s, body”.
1056
If you were talking to a boxer you might say something along the lines of “you have height, but you don’t have reach”.
1056
Even: “you have a bit of height, but you lack reach”. “That gunfighter – he’s got some cool!” (Can’t add new comment so added to most recent)
683
As a native English speaker and someone who has also taught ESL, I think the problem here is that native speakers don't usually pair "a bit" with an adjective that has a positive connotation. And, like it or not, I think there is a preference for tall. You'd hear "You're a bit short." You'll hear "He's a bit stupid." But one wouldn't say "He's a bit smart." So this really doesn't work in English. I tend to think the meaning is "You're somewhat/slightly tall."