Expressing "quite" with "ting"

挺 (tǐng) can be used before an adjective to mean "quite," "rather," or "pretty," as in "pretty good." This pattern is quite common in spoken Chinese.

Used with Adjectives

Using 挺 with an adjective means "quite."

Structure

挺 + Adj. + 的

Examples

• 这个 老师 挺 年轻 的 。Zhège lǎoshī tǐng niánqīng de.This teacher is quite young.
• 你 男朋友 挺 帅 的 。Nǐ nánpéngyou tǐng shuài de.Your boyfriend is pretty handsome.
• 最近 大家 都 挺 忙 的 。Zuìjìn dàjiā dōu tǐng máng de.We've all been quite busy lately.
• 这 件 衣服 大小 挺 合适 的 。Zhè jiàn yīfu dàxiǎo tǐng héshì de.This piece of clothing fits pretty well.
• 他 家 不是 挺 有钱 的 吗 ？Tā jiā bù shì tǐng yǒuqián de ma?Isn't his family rather rich?

Used with Verbs

In English, we're limited on what words come after the word "quite." Though Chinese is open to taking on verbs after 挺, these verbs are mostly psychological verbs.

Structure

挺 + [Verb Phrase] + 的

Examples

• 我 挺 喜欢 这 份 工作 的 。Wǒ tǐng xǐhuan zhè fèn gōngzuò de.I quite like this job.
• 我 女儿 挺 怕 他 爸爸 的 。Wǒ nǚ'ér tǐng pà tā bàba de.My daughter is quite afraid of his father.
• 那 件 事 我 挺 后悔 的 。Nà jiàn shì wǒ tǐng hòuhuǐ de.I rather regret that incident.
• 我们 都 挺 想 你 的 。Wǒmen dōu tǐng xiǎng nǐ de.We all quite miss you.
• 你 不 是 挺 爱 他 的 吗 ？怎么 分手 了 ？Nǐ bù shì tǐng ài tā de ma? Zěnme fēnshǒu le?Don't you love him? How come you broke up?

See also

• Expressing "excessively" with "tai"
• Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"
• Positive adjectives with "-ji le"
• Expressing "a little too" with "you dian"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 220) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy