挺…的【tǐng … de】

挺 goes before an adjective and means "quite" or "pretty". A 的 at the end of the sentence is common and makes it sound relaxed; it can be left off.

挺 is a conversation word. In writing, 很 or 比较 take its place.

挺 and 很

挺 is roughly as strong as 很, and warmer. 很 is often just the slot filler before an adjective; 挺 adds a real, friendly "quite".

With feeling verbs

Verbs that take 很 – 喜欢, 想, 担心 – take 挺 too.

挺不错, 挺不容易

A negative adjective after 挺 is fine, and two of these are set phrases: 挺不错 "pretty good" and 挺不容易 "not easy at all".

Not in a 比 sentence

Like 很, 挺 can't go in front of the adjective in a 比 comparison.

• × 他比我挺高 → 他比我高一点儿