有点儿 and 一点儿 are both translated as ‘a little’ or ‘a bit.’ Since they appear to have the same meaning, are they interchangeable, in all situations?

The answer is NO.

Then how are the two expressions used differently?

Well, they can modify adjectives, verbs and nouns, but they do have some other important exclusive uses.

 

I. When they modify adjectives, there are two primary distinguishing differences.

a. 有点儿 should be stated before the adjective, while 一点儿 is always stated after the adjective.

For example:

I’m a bit tired.
我累一点儿。(incorrect)
我有点儿累。（correct）

I hope it will be a bit cooler tomorrow.
我希望明天冷有点儿。(incorrect)
我希望明天冷一点儿。（correct）


b. 有点儿 expresses a negative feeling or complaint, while 一点儿 expresses a hopeful feeling.

这件衬衫有点儿大，你们有小一点儿的吗？
This shirt is a bit too big, do you have smaller ones?

电视的声音有点儿大，能调低一点儿吗？
TV is a bit too loud, could you turn it down a bit?

这道菜有点儿淡，下道菜可以咸一点儿吗？
This dish is bit too light, could next dish be a bit saltier?

 

II. Both expressions can be put in front of uncountable nouns, but used in different ways.


一点儿 + noun is a noun phrase, while 有点儿 + noun is a verb phrase. Why? because 有点儿 is actually the shortened version of 有 + 一点儿.  Therefore, 有点儿 + noun can be used in the following two types of sentences, however, 一点儿 + noun cannot be used in these sentences.

 

a. 有点儿 can be used in ‘there is’ sentences.
Examples:

There is a little bit of milk in the refrigerator.
冰箱里有点儿牛奶 = 冰箱里有一点儿牛奶。(correct)
冰箱里一点儿牛奶。（incorrect）

b. 有点儿 can be used in ‘have’ sentence.
Examples:

Please have some confidence in her!
请对她有点儿信心 = 请对她有一点儿信心。（correct）
请对她一点儿信心。（incorrect）

c.一点儿 + noun can follow a verb, and thereby become an object; 有点儿 cannot do this.
Examples:

I want to drink a little beer.
我想喝一点儿啤酒。（correct）
我想喝有点儿啤酒。（incorrect）

 

III. Both expressions can modify verbs, but each is identified with certain types of verbs.

有点儿 can modify verbs indicating a mental state or an emotion: like, hope, regret, worry, miss, etc, and must be placed before the verb. In contrast, 一点儿 is used to modify common verbs such as add, read, write, wear etc, and must come after the verb.

Examples for 有点儿:

I miss my hometown a bit.
我有点儿怀念我的家乡。(correct)
我一点儿怀念我的家乡。（incorrect）
我怀念一点儿我的家乡。（incorrect）
我怀念有点儿我的家乡。（incorrect）

Examples for 一点儿:
I watched this movie a bit.
这个电影我看了一点儿。(correct)
这个电影我看了有点儿。（incorrect）
这个电影我一点儿看了。（incorrect）
这个电影我有点儿看了。（incorrect）

 

IV. The fixed phrase 一点儿 + 也不 means ‘not at all.’
In this case, 一点儿 cannot be replaced by 有点儿

Examples:

我一点儿也不喜欢这个电影！
I don’t like this movie at all.

今天很忙，可是我一点儿也不累。
I was very busy today, but I was not tired at all.

她一点儿也不漂亮。
She is not beautiful at all.

After reading these these guidelines, I hope you find choosing between these phrases 一点儿也不难！