quite

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++quite /kwaɪt/ ●●● S1 W1 predeterminer, adverb  1  QUITE/FAIRLY especially American English very, but not extremely 非常，十分 → pretty The food in the cafeteria is usually quite good. 食堂的饭菜通常很不错。 His hair is quite thin on top now. 他头顶的头发现在很稀疏了。 Amy’s at college, and she’s doing quite well. 埃米在上大学，成绩很不错。quite a something He’s quite a good soccer player. 他是个相当不错的足球运动员。5 GRAMMAR 语法• Put quite before ‘a’ and an adjective and noun, not after ‘a’. quite放在a加形容词加名词之前，不放在a之后It took quite a long time (NOT不说a quite long time).这花了很长时间。n GRAMMAR: Word orderYou say quite a before an adjective and a noun: It took quite a long time to answer the questions. ✗Don’t say: It took a quite long time.2  especially British English fairly, or to a small extent, but not very 很；较为 → pretty The film was quite good, but the book was much better. 电影还不错，但书更好看。 I got a letter from Sylvia quite recently. 不久前我收到了西尔维娅的一封信。quite like/enjoy I quite like Chinese food. 我还挺喜欢中国菜的。3  quite a lot/bit/few LOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNTa fairly large number or amount 许多，大量，不少 He’s got quite a lot of friends. 他的朋友很多。 Quite a few towns are now banning cars from their shopping centres. 现在有不少城镇禁止汽车驶入购物中心。4  [+adj/adverb] British EnglishVERY completely 完全；十分 I’m sorry. That’s quite impossible. 我很抱歉，那是完全不可能的。 What she’s suggesting is quite ridiculous! 她的建议太荒谬了！ I think you’ve had quite enough to drink already! 我想你喝得已经够多了！ That’s quite a different matter. 那完全是另一回事。5  not quite LITTLE/NOT VERYnot completely 不完全地 They weren’t quite ready so we waited in the car. 他们没有完全准备好，所以我们在车里等着。 I’m not quite sure where she lives. 我不太确定她住在哪儿。 Dinner’s almost ready, but not quite. 晚饭差不多好了，但还没有完全准备妥当。6  not quite why/what/where etc EXACTnot exactly why, what, where etc 不完全是因为/是…那样/是某地等 The play wasn’t quite what we expected. 该剧不像我们想的那么好。7  quite a something/quite some something British EnglishUNUSUAL used before a noun to emphasize that something is very good, large, interesting etc 不寻常的；出众的；相当不错的〔用于名词前作强调〕 That was quite a party you had. 你的聚会搞得非常不错。 The engines make quite a noise. 引擎的声音很大。 It’s quite some distance away. 那儿相当远。8  quite a/some time especially British English a fairly long time 相当长的时间 We’ve been waiting for quite some time now. 我们已经等了相当长的时间。9  quite right British EnglishAGREE used to show that you agree strongly with someone 完全正确 ‘I refuse to do any more work.’ ‘Quite right. They can’t expect you to work for nothing.’ “我拒绝再做任何事情了。”“说得对。他们不能让你无偿工作。”10  that’s quite all right British EnglishYES used to reply to someone that you are not angry about something they have done 没有关系 ‘I’m sorry we’re so late.’ ‘That’s quite all right.’ “很抱歉我们来得太晚了。”“没有关系。”11  quite/quite so British English formal used to show that you agree with what someone is saying 是这样，是的 SYN exactly ‘They really should have thought of this before.’ ‘Yes, quite.’ “他们之前确实就该想到这一点。”“正是。”12  quite something especially British EnglishGOOD/EXCELLENT used to say that someone or something is very impressive 令人难忘的人[事]；不寻常的人[事] It’s quite something to walk out on stage in front of 20,000 people. 上台面对两万名观众这很了不起。

Examples from the Corpus

quite impossible• And the Presbyterians are quite impossible.• For others, that is quite impossible.• It was purchased because the sound of the river made reaching him by any other means quite impossible.• Very unlikely, though perhaps not quite impossible.• Citrus shrubs are wonderfully fragrant evergreens, but quite impossible outdoors without protection.• Jack tried but it was quite impossible; the button, like the steering wheel, was red hot.• It is quite impossible to believe that he will fade from the scene on formal retirement in a few years' time.• So popular were the proscribed celebrations that it proved quite impossible to eradicate them completely.Origin quite (1300-1400) quit, quite “free of” ((13-19 centuries)), from Old French quite; → QUIT

quite predeterminer →5 GRAMMAR1 →n GRAMMAR2LDOCE OnlineChinese  

extremely very, Corpus but not

quite
quite S1 W1 /kwaɪt/ predeterminer, adverb1. especially American English very, but not extremely ⇨ pretty:
    The food in the cafeteria is usually quite good.
    His hair is quite thin on top now.
    Amy’s at college, and she’s doing quite well.
    quite a something
    He’s quite a good soccer player.
  GRAMMAR
    Put quite before ‘a’ and an adjective and noun, not after ‘a’:
   ▪ It took quite a long time (NOT a quite long time).
2. especially British English fairly, or to a small extent, but not very ⇨ pretty:
    The film was quite good, but the book was much better.
    I got a letter from Sylvia quite recently.
    quite like/enjoy
    I quite like Chinese food.
3. quite a lot/bit/few a fairly large number or amount:
    He’s got quite a lot of friends.
    Quite a few towns are now banning cars from their shopping centres.
4. [+ adjective/adverb] British English completely:
    I’m sorry. That’s quite impossible.
    What she’s suggesting is quite ridiculous!
    I think you’ve had quite enough to drink already!
    That’s quite a different matter.
5. not quite not completely:
    They weren’t quite ready so we waited in the car.
    I’m not quite sure where she lives.
    Dinner’s almost ready, but not quite.
6. not quite why/what/where etc not exactly why, what, where etc:
    The play wasn’t quite what we expected.
7. quite a something/quite some something British English used before a noun to emphasize that something is very good, large, interesting etc:
    That was quite a party you had.
    The engines make quite a noise.
    It’s quite some distance away.
8. quite a/some time especially British English a fairly long time:
    We’ve been waiting for quite some time now.
9. quite right British English used to show that you agree strongly with someone:
    ‘I refuse to do any more work.’ ‘Quite right. They can’t expect you to work for nothing.’
10. that’s quite all right British English used to reply to someone that you are not angry about something they have done:
    ‘I’m sorry we’re so late.’ ‘That’s quite all right.’
11. quite/quite so British English formal used to show that you agree with what someone is saying
   SYN  exactly:
    ‘They really should have thought of this before.’ ‘Yes, quite.’
12. quite something especially British English used to say that someone or something is very impressive:
    It’s quite something to walk out on stage in front of 20,000 people.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ rather/quite especially British English more than a little, but less than very. British people often use these words before adjectives in conversation. In many cases they do not intend to change the meaning – it is just something that people say: She seemed rather unhappy. | It's rather a difficult question. | It’s getting quite late. | Malaria is rather common in this area.
   ▪ fairly rather. Fairly is used in both British and American English: The test was fairly easy. | It’s a fairly long way to the next town.
   ▪ pretty spoken rather. Pretty is more informal than the other words and is used in spoken English: Her French is pretty good. | We’re in a pretty strong position.
   ▪ reasonably to a satisfactory level or degree: He plays reasonably well. | Let's just say that I am reasonably confident we'll win.
   ▪ moderately formal more than a little, but not very: Her family was moderately wealthy. | The food was moderately good, but not as good as the food in the other restaurants. | Use a moderately high heat. | a moderately difficult climb
   ▪ somewhat formal fairly or to a small degree. Somewhat is used especially when talking about the size or degree of something. It is often used in comparatives: The celebrations were somewhat larger than last year’s. | He looked somewhat irritated. | a somewhat surprising decision

🔑 quiteBrE /kwaɪt/ 🔊NAmE /kwaɪt/ 🔊 adverb🔑 (BrE) (not used with a negative 不与否定词连用) to some degree 颇；相当；某种程度上 SYN fairly, pretty ◆quite big/good/cold/warm/interesting相当大／好／冷／暖和／有趣◆He plays quite well. 他表现得相当好。🔊🔊◆I quite like opera. 我很喜欢歌剧。🔊🔊 HELP When quite is used with an adjective before a noun, it comes before a or an. * quite 同形容词连用修饰名词时，置于 a 或 an 之前。You can say 可以说◆It's quite a small houseor 或◆Their house is quite smallbut not 但不说◆ It's a quite small house. 🔑 to the greatest possible degree 完全；十分；非常；彻底 SYN completely, absolutely, entirely ◆quite delicious/amazing/empty/perfect非常美味／惊人／空／出众◆This is quite a different problem. 这是个截然不同的问题。🔊🔊◆I'm quite happy to wait for you here. 我非常高兴在此等候您。🔊🔊◆(BrE) Flying is quite the best way to travel. 坐飞机绝对是最佳旅行方式。🔊🔊◆It wasn't quite as simple as I thought it would be. 这事完全不像我想的那么简单。🔊🔊◆Quite frankly, I don't blame you. 坦白说，我并不怪你。🔊🔊◆I've had quite enough of your tantrums. 我已经受够了你那臭脾气！🔊🔊◆Are you quite sure? 你有十足把握吗？🔊🔊◆I quite agree. 我完全同意。🔊🔊◆I don't quite know what to do next. 我不太清楚下一步该怎么办。🔊🔊◆Quite apart from all the work, he had financial problems. 抛开那些工作的事情，他还有财务困难。🔊🔊◆(BrE) The theatre was not quite (= was almost) full. 剧场并未完全满座。🔊🔊◆It's like being in the Alps, but not quite. 那好像是在阿尔卑斯山，但又不尽然。🔊🔊◆'I almost think she prefers animals to people.' ' Quite right too,' said Bill. “我简直认为她喜爱动物胜过喜爱人。” “没错儿。” 比尔说道。🔊🔊◆'I'm sorry to be so difficult.' ' That's quite all right.' “对不起，我太为难你了。” “没关系。”🔊🔊🔑 to a great degree; very; really 在很大程度上；很；的确◆You'll be quite comfortable here. 你在这里会很舒服的。🔊🔊◆I can see it quite clearly. 我能清清楚楚地看见它。🔊🔊◆(NAmE) 'You've no intention of coming back?' 'I'm quite sorry, but no, I have not.' “你不打算回来了吗？” “是的。非常抱歉，我不想回来了。”🔊🔊

Look at these examples. 看下列例句：

• ◆The exam was fairly difficult. 这场考试颇难。
• ◆The exam was quite difficult. 这场考试相当难。
• ◆The exam was rather difficult. 这场考试十分难。
• Quite is a little stronger than fairly, and rather is a little stronger than quite. Rather is not very common in NAmE; pretty has the same meaning and this is used in informal BrE too. * quite 比 fairly 语气稍强，而 rather 又比 quite 语气稍强。在美式英语中，rather 不太常用。pretty 与 rather 含义相同，也用于非正式英式英语：◆The exam was pretty difficult. 这场考试十分难。
• In BrE quite has two meanings. 在英式英语中，quite 含义有二：◆I feel quite tired today(= fairly tired). 今天我感到相当累。With adjectives that describe an extreme state ('non-gradable' adjectives) it means 'completely' or 'absolutely'. 与表示极端状态的形容词（即非级差形容词）连用，意为完全地、绝对地：◆I feel quite exhausted. 我感到筋疲力尽。With some adjectives, both meanings are possible. The speaker's stress and intonation will show you which is meant. 与某些形容词连用，两种含义均有可能，究竟属于哪一种由说话者的重音和语调决定：◆Your essay is ˈquite good(= fairly good—it could be better). 你的文章还不错（挺好，不过可以更好）；◆Your essay is quite ˈgood(= very good, especially when this is unexpected). 你的文章简直太好了（非常好，尤指出乎意料）。
• In NAmE quite usually means something like 'very', not 'fairly' or 'rather'. Pretty is used instead for this sense. 在美式英语中，quite 通常为 very 之义，而非 fairly 或 rather。表示后一种意思用 pretty。

(also formal quite so) (BrE) used to agree with sb or show that you understand them （表示赞同或理解）对，正是◆'He's bound to feel shaken after his accident.' 'Quite.' “那次事故之后，他一定是像惊弓之鸟。” “可不是。”🔊🔊●ˈquite a/the sth (also informal ˈquite some sth) used to show that a person or thing is particularly impressive or unusual in some way （强调在某方面很突出）◆She's quite a beauty. 她可是个大美人啊。🔊🔊◆We found it quite a change when we moved to London. 我们搬到伦敦后，感觉生活变化很大。🔊🔊◆He's quite the little gentleman, isn't he? 他真是个小绅士，不是吗？🔊🔊◆It must be quite some car. 那辆汽车肯定很了不得。🔊🔊●quite a ˈlot (of sth) 🔑 (also BrE, informal quite a ˈbit) a large number or amount of sth 大量；许多；众多◆They drank quite a lot of wine. 他们喝了好多酒。🔊🔊●ˈquite some stha large amount of sth 大量；众多◆She hasn't been seen for quite some time. 好久没人看见她了。🔊🔊(informal) = quite a/the sth ●ˌquite the ˈcontraryused to emphasize that the opposite of what has been said is true 恰恰相反；正相反◆I don't find him funny at all. Quite the contrary. 正相反，我觉得他一点儿也不可笑。🔊🔊●quite a ˈfew 🔑 (BrE also a good ˈfew) a fairly large number 相当多；不少◆I've been there quite a few times. 我去过那里好多次了。🔊🔊