thấy bà

Mệt thấy bà, anh ấy ngồi xuống ghế đá trong công viên.

Definition

1. Adverb (informal, emphatic):
   • Terribly, extremely, awfully: Used as an intensifier before an adjective or verb to express a very high degree, often with a connotation of being overwhelmed or finding something excessive.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Tôi mệt thấy bà. (I am terribly tired.)
  • Cô ấy giận thấy bà. (She is extremely angry.)
  • Chiếc xe cũ thấy bà. (That car is awfully old.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is inherently informal and emphatic. It is commonly used in spoken Southern Vietnamese dialects. Its strength is similar to English slang intensifiers like "hella," "mad," or "insanely."
• It typically precedes the adjective or stative verb it modifies.

Variants and Related Words

• Thấy mẹ (adv, infml): Another informal intensifier with identical meaning and usage to "thấy bà."
  • Bài tập khó thấy mẹ. (The homework is insanely difficult.)

Synonyms

• Rất: very (standard, neutral).
• Vô cùng: extremely (standard, formal).
• Cực kỳ: extremely (standard).
• Quá: too, excessively (standard).

Related Idioms

• Thấy ghê: (lit. "see fright") - An informal phrase meaning "terribly" or "frighteningly," used as a similar intensifier.
  • Nó nhanh thấy ghê. (He is frighteningly fast.)