Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Extreme; excessive; to a high degree: Used to describe a state, quality, or action that is very intense, severe, or goes beyond the ordinary limit. It often carries a negative connotation of being troublesome or unreasonable.
   • Terrible; awful: Can describe something considered very bad or formidable.

2. Adverb:

   • Extremely; exceedingly; very: Used to intensify an adjective or verb, emphasizing a very high degree.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Tính anh ấy thật là đáo để. (His personality is truly extreme/troublesome.)
  • Đó là một vấn đề đáo để. (That is a terrible/very difficult problem.)

• Adverb:

  • Cô ấy đáo để thông minh. (She is exceedingly intelligent.)
  • Trời hôm nay đáo để nóng. (It is extremely hot today.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used in colloquial speech for strong emphasis. When used as an adjective describing a person's character or behavior, it frequently implies someone is cunning, tricky, or unreasonably stubborn.
  • Thằng bé láu cá, đáo để lắm! (That boy is sly and extremely cunning!)

Variants and Related Words

• Đáo để itself is a fixed compound. There are no direct variants, but its meaning relates to intensity.

Synonyms

• Adjective/Adverb: Extreme, excessive, terrible, formidable.
• Adverb: Extremely, exceedingly, very, immensely.

Related Idioms

• Láu cá đáo để: To be extremely sly or cunning.
  • Tên buôn lậu đó láu cá đáo để. (That smuggler is extremely sly.)
• Nguy hiểm đáo để: To be extremely dangerous.
  • Con đường đèo này nguy hiểm đáo để. (This mountain pass road is extremely dangerous.)