dou3 sei2到死
Jyutpingdou3 sei2
Yaledou séi
Definition
To the point of death, or to an extreme degree.
- until death; for the rest of one's life
- figurativeto an extreme degree; extremely
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Functions as a hyperbolic intensifier placed after adjectives to express an extreme state. It carries a strong, informal tone often used to vent frustration or emphasize a dramatic feeling. Unlike formal intensifiers, it is strictly reserved for casual speech among friends or peers.
Examples
This job is boring to death, I really don't want to do it.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this with positive adjectives, as it is almost exclusively reserved for negative or unpleasant situations. Saying something is happy to death or beautiful to death sounds unnatural and confusing to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
