🇺🇸 English
HSK 3

Lesson 3 · 这个小区挺好的

What you'll learn

Describe a neighborhood and apartment with `挺`, extreme degree complements, and `就/才` for timing.

About 35 min
A cute cartoon apartment neighborhood with two learners looking at a blank building map and green space.
1

Listen and Read

Visit a neighborhood and decide whether the place is convenient enough.

小雨
这个小区挺安静的，附近还有超市。
Zhè ge xiǎo qū tǐng ān jìng de, fù jìn hái yǒu chāo shì.
This neighborhood is pretty quiet, and there is also a supermarket nearby.
小林
是啊，从这儿到学校十分钟就到了。
Shì a, cóng zhèr dào xué xiào shí fēn zhōng jiù dào le.
Yes. From here to school, it takes only ten minutes.
小雨
昨天我看了三个房子，看到晚上九点才回家。
Zuó tiān wǒ kàn le sān gè fáng zi, kàn dào wǎn shàng jiǔ diǎn cái huí jiā.
Yesterday I saw three apartments and did not get home until nine at night.
小林
那一定累坏了吧。
Nà yí dìng lèi huài le ba.
You must have been exhausted.
小雨
有点儿累，但是这个房子看起来很合适。
Yǒu diǎnr lèi, dàn shì zhè ge fáng zi kàn qǐ lái hěn hé shì.
A little tired, but this apartment looks suitable.
2

Core Words

Practice the words that carry this lesson's dialogue, patterns, and final question.

小区
xiǎo qū
residential neighborhood
房子
fáng zi
house; apartment
附近
fù jìn
nearby
安静
ān jìng
quiet
挺
tǐng
quite; pretty
才
cái
only then; not until
3

Pattern: `挺 + adjective + 的`

挺 + 形容词 + 的

`挺` is common in speech. It means something is quite or pretty good, often with a relaxed tone.

这个小区挺安静的。
Zhè ge xiǎo qū tǐng ān jìng de.
This neighborhood is pretty quiet.
这间房子挺干净的。
Zhè jiān fáng zi tǐng gān jìng de.
This room is pretty clean.
4

Pattern: Degree Complement `坏了`

形容词 + 坏了

`坏了` after an adjective shows an extreme degree, often for negative feelings like tiredness or hunger.

我今天忙坏了。
Wǒ jīn tiān máng huài le.
I was extremely busy today.
他走了一上午，累坏了。
Tā zǒu le yí shàng wǔ, lèi huài le.
He walked all morning and got exhausted.
5

Pattern: `就` vs `才`

时间 + 就/才 + 动词

`就` shows the speaker thinks something is early or quick. `才` shows it feels late or slow.

十分钟就到了。
Shí fēn zhōng jiù dào le.
It takes only ten minutes to arrive.
晚上九点才回家。
Wǎn shàng jiǔ diǎn cái huí jiā.
I did not get home until nine at night.
6

Learning Note

`挺` is softer than `非常`.

Use `挺` when you want a natural, spoken evaluation. It is less formal and less strong than `非常`.

7

Practice

Choose the casual praise sentence.

You want to say this neighborhood is quite quiet.

Which sentence uses `挺` naturally?

8

Practice

Choose `就` or `才` for timing.

You arrived home later than expected, at nine in the evening.

Which sentence shows that the time feels late?