Level 4 · Upper Intermediate
Not at all: 一点儿也不
Subj. + 一点儿 + 也/都 + 不/没 + Verb / Adj. · Traditional: Subj. + 一點兒 + 也/都 + 不/沒 + Verb / Adj.
To say "not at all / not even a little", put 一点儿 (or 一点) before 也 or 都 plus the negative: 我一点儿也不累 "I'm not tired at all". Use 不 for states and habits, 没 for things that didn't happen: 我一点儿东西都没吃 "I didn't eat a thing".
The 也/都 is not optional — 我一点儿不累 sounds broken. And the whole package sits BEFORE the adjective or verb, never after it.
Examples
我一点儿也不累。
我一點兒也不累。
wǒ yī diǎnr yě bù lèi
I'm not tired at all.
这个菜一点儿都不辣。
這個菜一點兒都不辣。
zhè ge cài yī diǎnr dōu bù là
This dish isn't spicy at all.
他一点儿也不想去。
他一點兒也不想去。
tā yī diǎnr yě bù xiǎng qù
He doesn't want to go at all.
我昨天一点儿东西都没吃。
我昨天一點兒東西都沒吃。
wǒ zuó tiān yī diǎnr dōng xi dōu méi chī
I didn't eat a thing yesterday.
Common mistakes
✗ 我一点儿不累。
✓ 我一点儿也不累。
The 也 (or 都) is required — 一点儿 can't connect to the negative by itself.
✗ 我不累一点儿。
✓ 我一点儿也不累。
In negative sentences 一点儿 moves up front, before 也/都 + 不.
Related grammar points
Practice this pattern in graded stories like A Busy Afternoon (Part 3), Contest Day (Part 3), The Friendly Dog (Part 3) inside the Literate Chinese app.
