dak1 han2得很
Jyutpingdak1 han2
Yaledāk hán
Definition
Placed after an adjective to indicate a very high degree.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Cantonese speakers rarely use 得很 to express intensity in daily speech, as it sounds like a direct translation from Mandarin. Instead, native speakers prefer using intensifiers like 好, 咁, or 幾 before the adjective, or adding descriptive particles like 到不得了 or 到飛起 after it. Using 得很 will make your speech sound unnatural and overly formal.
Related words
Common phrases
incredibly delicious
extremely happy
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly add 得很 to the end of sentences because they are used to Mandarin grammar. In Cantonese, intensity is almost always marked before the adjective or by using a resultative phrase.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
