[Learn beginner Chinese with grammar] Difference of : 些 xiē / 點 diǎn

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What is the difference between 些 xiē and 點 diǎn?

「些 xiē」and「點 diǎn」can both describe a small or unclear amount. Sometimes they are similar, but they are not always the same.

For beginners, remember this simple difference:

• 一些 yì xiē: some; several; an unspecified amount
• 一點 yì diǎn: a little; a small amount; not much

「些」often feels like “some items / some amount.”「點」often feels smaller, like “a little bit.”

1. 一些 yì xiē: some

Use「一些」when you want to say “some” without saying the exact amount.

Pattern	Meaning
一些 + Noun	some noun / some amount of something

Chinese	Pinyin	English
請給我一些食物。 ♬	qǐng gěi wǒ yì xiē shíwù	Please give me some food.
他有一些錢。 ♬	tā yǒu yì xiē qián	He has some money.

When「一些」is used after「有」, the「一」is often omitted in daily speech.

Full form	Short form	Meaning
他有一些錢。 ♬	他有些錢。 ♬	He has some money.

2. 一點 yì diǎn: a little

Use「一點」when the amount is small. It often means “a little” or “a little bit.”

Pattern	Meaning
一點 + Noun	a little noun / a small amount of something

Chinese	Pinyin	English
請給我一點食物，不要太多。 ♬	qǐng gěi wǒ yì diǎn shíwù, bú yào tài duō	Please give me a little food, not too much.
我想喝一點水。 ♬	wǒ xiǎng hē yì diǎn shuǐ	I want to drink a little water.

Compared with「一些」,「一點」usually sounds smaller.

3. 有一點 / 有點 + adjective

Use「有一點」or「有點」before an adjective to mean “a bit” or “a little.” It often describes a slight negative feeling, but it can also be neutral depending on context.

Pattern	Meaning
有一點 / 有點 + Adjective	a bit adjective / a little adjective

Chinese	Pinyin	English
這裡有一點臭。 ♬	zhèlǐ yǒu yì diǎn chòu	It is a bit smelly here.
這裡有點臭。 ♬	zhèlǐ yǒudiǎn chòu	It is a bit smelly here.
我今天有點累。 ♬	wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎn lèi	I am a little tired today.

In daily speech,「有點」is more common than「有一點」.

4. 一些些 and 一點點: just a little

Chinese sometimes repeats「些」or「點」to make the amount sound smaller, softer, or more emotional.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
一些些 ♬	yì xiē xiē	some; just a little bit
一點點 ♬	yì diǎn diǎn	a tiny bit; just a little

Chinese	Pinyin	English
給我一點點。 ♬	gěi wǒ yì diǎn diǎn	Give me just a little bit.
我只會說一點點中文。 ♬	wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yì diǎn diǎn Zhōngwén	I can only speak a tiny bit of Chinese.

5. 這些 / 那些: these / those

Use「些」with「這」and「那」to mean “these” and “those.”

Chinese	Pinyin	English
這些 ♬	zhè xiē	these
那些 ♬	nà xiē	those

Chinese	Pinyin	English
這些人從哪裡來的？ ♬	zhè xiē rén cóng nǎlǐ lái de	Where do these people come from?
把這些拿給你爸爸。 ♬	bǎ zhè xiē ná gěi nǐ bàba	Give these to your dad.

The noun after「這些」or「那些」can be omitted when the meaning is clear.

6. 這一點 / 那一點: this point / that point

「點」can also mean “point.” In this use, it does not mean “a little amount.”

Chinese	Pinyin	English
這一點 ♬	zhè yì diǎn	this point
那一點 ♬	nà yì diǎn	that point

Chinese	Pinyin	English
我不同意這一點。 ♬	wǒ bù tóngyì zhè yì diǎn	I disagree with this point.
你不喜歡哪一點？ ♬	nǐ bù xǐhuān nǎ yì diǎn	Which point do you dislike?

In casual speech,「一」can sometimes be omitted, so「這點」and「那點」are also common.

7. 哪些 nǎ xiē: which ones

Use「哪些」to ask “which ones.” It is used for plural or multiple possible items.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
哪些 ♬	nǎ xiē	which ones
哪些是你的？ ♬	nǎ xiē shì nǐ de	Which ones are yours?

If you want to ask about one item, use「哪 + measure word」instead.

Plural	Singular
哪些是你的？ ♬	哪個是你的？ ♬

8. 幾點 jǐ diǎn: what time

「點」can also mean “o’clock” or “point in time.”「幾點」means “what time.”

Chinese	Pinyin	English
幾點 ♬	jǐ diǎn	what time
現在是幾點？ ♬	xiànzài shì jǐ diǎn	What time is it now?

9. Verb + 些 / 點: do some; do a little

After a verb,「些」and「點」can both mean doing some amount of an action.「些」often sounds like “some,” while「點」often sounds like “a little.”

Pattern	Meaning
Verb + 些 + Object	do some object / do some amount
Verb + 點 + Object	do a little object / do a small amount

Chinese	Pinyin	English
吃些東西。 ♬	chī xiē dōngxi	Eat something. / Eat some food.
吃點東西。 ♬	chī diǎn dōngxi	Eat a little something.
寫些文章。 ♬	xiě xiē wénzhāng	Write some articles.
買些禮品。 ♬	mǎi xiē lǐpǐn	Buy some gifts.
處理些雜務。 ♬	chǔlǐ xiē záwù	Handle some chores.

10. 沒點 + noun: not even a little / without enough

「沒點 + noun」is a colloquial pattern. It often sounds rhetorical or ironic. It means “without even a little…” or “without enough…”

Pattern	Feeling
沒點 + Noun	not even a little; without enough; often rhetorical

Chinese	Pinyin	English
如果我沒點本事，我怎麼敢接這個案子？ ♬	rúguǒ wǒ méi diǎn běnshì, wǒ zěnme gǎn jiē zhège ànzi	If I did not have some real ability, how would I dare to take this case?

This pattern is more advanced and conversational. Beginners can first focus on「一些」、「一點」、「這些」、「那些」and「哪些」.

11. 好一些 / 好一點: better

After adjectives,「一些」and「一點」can mean “a little more” or “a bit more.” With「好」, both「好一些」and「好一點」mean “better.”

Chinese	Pinyin	English
好一些 ♬	hǎo yì xiē	a little better
好一點 ♬	hǎo yì diǎn	a little better

Chinese	Pinyin	English
請對她好一些。 ♬	qǐng duì tā hǎo yì xiē	Please treat her better.
明天會比今天好一點。 ♬	míngtiān huì bǐ jīntiān hǎo yì diǎn	Tomorrow will be a little better than today.

Quick review

Pattern	Meaning	Example
一些 + noun	some	一些食物 ♬
一點 + noun	a little	一點食物 ♬
有點 + adjective	a bit adjective	有點累 ♬
這些 / 那些	these / those	這些人 ♬
哪些	which ones	哪些是你的？ ♬
一點點	a tiny bit	給我一點點。 ♬
好一點	a little better	明天會好一點。 ♬

Useful vocabulary

Chinese	Pinyin	English
些 ♬	xiē	some; several
點 ♬	diǎn	a little; point; o’clock
一些 ♬	yì xiē	some
一點 ♬	yì diǎn	a little
一點點 ♬	yì diǎn diǎn	a tiny bit
食物 ♬	shíwù	food
錢 ♬	qián	money
臭 ♬	chòu	smelly
累 ♬	lèi	tired
這些 ♬	zhè xiē	these
那些 ♬	nà xiē	those
哪些 ♬	nǎ xiē	which ones
哪一點 ♬	nǎ yì diǎn	which point
幾點 ♬	jǐ diǎn	what time
東西 ♬	dōngxi	thing; stuff
文章 ♬	wénzhāng	article
禮品 ♬	lǐpǐn	gift
本事 ♬	běnshì	ability; skill
案子 ♬	ànzi	case; project
好一點 ♬	hǎo yì diǎn	a little better