颇 / 颇为
quite; rather; considerably (written)
Structure
颇 ＋ 动词短语（颇受欢迎、颇有道理） · 颇为 ＋ 双音节形容词（颇为罕见）
What it means
“Quite; rather; considerably”: 颇 (pō) is the written 很 or 相当, often with a hint of “more than you might expect”.
How it is built
颇 + verb phrase (颇受好评, 颇有道理, 颇感意外); 颇为 + two-syllable adjective: 申遗的过程颇为艰难 (the road to World Heritage status was rather hard going).
When to use it
Written. Only a handful of written adverbs take 为 like this: 颇为, 极为 (3-22), 较为, 更为, 尤为. In casual speech say 挺 or 相当.
Watch out
Don't add 为 to ordinary adverbs. ✗ 很为复杂 ✓ 很复杂 ✓ 颇为复杂. Keep plain 颇 for verb phrases: 颇有道理.
Examples
这部纪录片在年轻人中颇受欢迎。
This documentary is quite popular with young people.
他对北京的老胡同颇有研究。
He knows a good deal about Beijing’s old hutongs.
申遗的过程颇为艰难。
The road to World Heritage status was rather hard going.
Learn this in Lesson 117 · HSK 7–9: 中轴线申遗成功 (Culture news: Beijing’s Central Axis joins the World Heritage list)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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