xiết bao
Definition
- Adverb (Literary/Emphatic):
- How...! / How very...!: Used as an exclamatory intensifier to express a strong degree of emotion, such as wonder, admiration, sadness, or nostalgia. It emphasizes the intensity of the adjective or adverb that follows it.
- What a...! / To what extent...!: Conveys a sense of "to what great measure" or "immensely," often found in poetic, literary, or formal reflective contexts.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Đẹp xiết bao! (How very beautiful!)
- Tôi nhớ quê hương xiết bao. (I miss my homeland immensely.)
- Xiết bao đau đớn! (What great pain! / How very painful!)
Advanced Usage
- "xiết bao" in formal prose: Often used to introduce a reflective or emotional observation.
- Xiết bao cảm động trước tấm lòng nhân hậu ấy. (How deeply moved one is by that kindness.)
Variants and Related Words
Biết bao: A more common variant with identical meaning and usage.
- Yêu quê hương biết bao! (How I love my homeland!)
Bao nhiêu: An interrogative meaning "how much/many," which shares the root "bao" but is used for questions rather than exclamations.
Synonyms
- How...!: Used in exclamatory sentences.
- Immensely: To a great extent.
- Extremely: To a very high degree.
- What a...!: Exclamatory phrase.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Ôi, xiết bao...": A common exclamatory structure, often starting with an interjection like "Ôi" (Oh).
- Ôi, xiết bao ngậm ngùi! (Oh, how poignant!)