Usage note
差不多用来表示某件事情几乎或差不多符合某种标准。
chàbuduō láiyòng bǎolǐ shèmén qíngkuàng, yòng lái biǎoshì mǒutiān shìqíng jīběn huífù zhǒngxiē bǔzhào.
差不多 is used to indicate that something almost or nearly meets a certain standard.
Context note
差不多常用于日常生活中的比较和描述，比如天气、时间等。
chàbuduō cháng yòng yú rìjīn shēnghuo zhōng de bǐjiào hé shùshù, bǐrú tāiqí, shíjiān děng.
差不多 is commonly used in daily life comparisons and descriptions, such as weather or time.
5 examples
今天的天气差不多和昨天一样。
jīn tiān de tiān qì chà bù duō hé zuó tiān yí yàng。
Today's weather is almost the same as yesterday.
他迟到了，不过时间差不多。
tā chí dào le， bú guò shí jiān chà bù duō。
He was late, but the time was nearly right.
这道题差不多可以做出来了。
zhè dào tí chà bù duō kě yǐ zuò chū lái le。
This problem is almost solvable.
我们差不多同时出发的。
wǒ men chà bù duō tóng shí chū fā de。
We left at about the same time.
这个时间差不多够用了。
zhè ge shí jiān chà bù duō gòu yòng le。
This amount of time is nearly enough.
5 mini stories
妈妈说今天天气差不多和昨天一样，所以不用带伞。
mā ma shuō jīn tiān tiān qì chà bù duō hé zuó tiān yí yàng， suǒ yǐ bú yòng dài sǎn。
Mom said today's weather was almost the same as yesterday, so she didn't need to bring an umbrella.
小明迟到了，不过时间差不多了，老师还没开始上课。
xiǎo míng chí dào le， bú guò shí jiān chà bù duō le， lǎo shī hái méi kāi shǐ shàng kè。
Xiaoming was late, but it was nearly time for class to start; the teacher hadn't begun yet.
我们计划今天去公园玩，天气差不多适合户外活动。
wǒ men jì huà jīn tiān qù gōng yuán wán， tiān qì chà bù duō shì hé hù wài huó dòng。
We planned to go to the park today and the weather was almost suitable for outdoor activities.
小红说她迟到了，不过时间差不多了，老师还没开始上课。
xiǎo hóng shuō tā chí dào le， bú guò shí jiān chà bù duō le， lǎo shī hái méi kāi shǐ shàng kè。
Xiaohong said she was late, but it was nearly time for class to start; the teacher hadn't begun yet.
今天天气差不多和昨天一样，所以不用带伞。
jīn tiān tiān qì chà bù duō hé zuó tiān yí yàng， suǒ yǐ bú yòng dài sǎn。
Today's weather was almost the same as yesterday, so there was no need to bring an umbrella.
Mini dialogue
差不多高
A
你和你哥哥谁高？
Nǐ hé nǐ gēge shéi gāo?
Who is taller, you or your older brother?
B
我们差不多高。
Wǒmen chàbuduō gāo.
We are almost the same height.
差不多到了
A
我们快到了吗？
Wǒmen kuài dào le ma?
Are we almost there?
B
差不多了，再走五分钟。
Chàbuduō le, zài zǒu wǔ fēnzhōng.
Almost, walk for five more minutes.
Related words and contrasts
similar
几乎
jī hū
almost; nearly
A formal synonym for 'almost'.
related
相似
xiāng sì
similar; alike
Describes things that are almost the same.
similar
接近
jiē jìn
close to; approaching
To be close to a certain state or number.