not quite
not quite — 慣用語
1. almost in a particular state or amount, but a little less than fully so; also us
不太；差一點
幾乎達到某狀態但還差一點點
almost in a particular state or amount, but a little less than fully so; also used to gently say that something someone said is close to the truth but not exactly right.
Yuna tasted the soup, but the broth was not quite ready to serve.
Yuna 攪了攪湯並嚐了一口，但湯頭還沒完全到可以上桌的程度。
not quite + adjective (ready)
Christopher counted his coins twice, but did not quite have enough for the ticket.
Christopher 把硬幣數了兩次，但還是不太夠買火車票的錢。
not quite + enough for an amount
The painters worked all morning, but the back wall was not quite dry yet.
油漆工整個上午都在忙，但後牆還是沒有完全乾。
not quite + adjective for an incomplete state
"So you finished the whole report?" "Not quite — the last two pages still need checking."
「所以你把整份報告寫完了？」「還沒完全——最後兩頁還需要檢查。」
standalone reply: gently correcting an overstatement
Joaquín reached up, but his fingers could not quite touch the old photo album.
Joaquín 伸手去搆最上層的架子，但手指還是差一點點碰不到那本舊相簿。
not quite + verb for falling just short
- not quite ready
- not quite finished
- not quite right
- not quite enough
- not quite sure
- almost
plainer and more common; 'almost' simply means close, while 'not quite' stresses the small remaining gap
- nearly
very close in meaning; 'nearly' can feel slightly more positive, 'not quite' highlights what is still missing
- not entirely
more formal; used for partial agreement or partial truth
- completely
the full state that 'not quite' falls short of
- exactly
as a reply, the opposite of the 'not exactly right' reading
文法句型
not quite + adjective
not quite + verb
not quite + enough/ready/finished
用法筆記
Modifies an adjective, verb, or amount to mean it falls just short of the full level; also stands alone as a polite reply meaning 'almost, but not exactly'. Distinguish from plain 'not', which denies completely rather than signalling a small shortfall.