gwo3 tau4過頭过头
Jyutpinggwo3 tau4
Yalegwo tàuh
Definition
Too; excessively; overdone; added after an adjective to indicate exceeding a normal limit.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Adding 過頭 to an adjective creates a sense of excess that often implies a negative outcome or a state that has crossed a reasonable boundary. It functions similarly to the suffix 囉 in some contexts but carries a stronger emphasis on the degree being beyond what is acceptable or expected. It is rarely used for positive attributes unless the speaker is highlighting an absurd or comical extreme.
Examples
Your requirement is way too strict.
He is excessively lazy and never does any work.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal verb phrase 過頭 meaning to overtake or pass someone, such as in driving. When used as a suffix for intensity, it must follow an adjective directly without any other particles in between.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
