do1 bat1 sing1 sou3多不勝數多不胜数
Jyutpingdo1 bat1 sing1 sou3
Yaledō bāt sīng sou
Definition
Countless; too many to count.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Carries a slightly formal or literary tone despite being used in spoken Cantonese to emphasize an overwhelming quantity. It is typically reserved for situations where the sheer number of items is so high that it becomes impossible or impractical to count them individually. Unlike simpler terms for many, this idiom implies a sense of awe or frustration regarding the scale of the subject.
Examples
There are countless souvenirs here, I'm dizzy from choosing.
The good deeds he has done are countless, everyone respects him a lot.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this for small, countable groups of things where a simple 好多 would be more natural. It is not appropriate for everyday, casual quantities like the number of people in a room or items in a shopping bag.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
