quá trời
Definition
Adverb (colloquial, Southern Vietnamese dialect):
- Extremely; exceedingly; immensely: Used as an intensifier to emphasize a very high degree or extent of a quality, action, or state. It conveys a sense of being beyond normal limits, similar to "terribly" or "incredibly."
- Mighty (archaic/informal): An informal intensifier meaning "very" or "extremely," often used for emphasis.
Adjective (colloquial, in specific constructions):
- An excessive amount; a lot: Used to describe a large or overwhelming quantity of something.
Usage Examples
Adverb:
- Bài tập này khó quá trời. (This homework is extremely difficult.)
- Cô ấy hát hay quá trời. (She sings incredibly well.)
- Anh ta khéo tay quá trời. (He is mighty clever.)
Adjective:
- Ở đây có người quá trời. (There are a ton of people here.)
- Hàng đắt quá trời. (The goods are excessively expensive.)
Advanced Usage
Often used in exclamations for strong emotional emphasis.
- Vui quá trời! (I'm so happy!)
- Ngon quá trời! (It's incredibly delicious!)
Can be combined with "quá trời quá đất" for even greater emphasis, meaning "exceedingly" or "beyond measure."
- Tức quá trời quá đất! (I'm exceedingly angry!)
Variants and Related Words
- Quá thể (adv): Excessively; too much (similar meaning but can be more formal).
- Cực kỳ (adv): Extremely; utterly (standard Vietnamese).
- Vô cùng (adv): Infinitely; immensely (standard Vietnamese).
Synonyms
- Extremely: To a very great degree.
- Exceedingly: To an unusual degree.
- Incredibly: To a great degree; amazingly.
- Terribly: Very; extremely (informal intensifier).
- Immensely: To a great extent; hugely.
Related Idioms and Phrases
Quá trời quá đất: An intensified form meaning "excessively," "beyond all limits," or "to the nth degree."
- Nó giận quá trời quá đất. (He was exceedingly angry.)
Nhiều quá trời: A huge amount; an awful lot.
- Công việc nhiều quá trời. (There's an awful lot of work.)
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(thông tục) Mighty
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Anh ta khéo tay quá trờiHe is mighty clever
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