đến mức
Definition
- Prepositional phrase / Adverbial phrase:
- To the extent that; to the point that: Used to introduce a clause describing a result, consequence, or extreme degree of the main action or state. It emphasizes the intensity or limit reached.
- So much that; such that: Indicates a high degree leading to a specific outcome.
Usage Examples
To the extent that:
- Cô ấy mệt đến mức không thể mở nổi mắt. (She was tired to the point that she couldn't even open her eyes.)
- Anh ấy tiếc đến mức không nói nên lời. (He regretted it to the extent that he was speechless.)
So much that:
- Trời lạnh đến mức nước đóng băng. (It was so cold that the water froze.)
- Cô ấy hạnh phúc đến mức khóc. (She was so happy that she cried.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to form emphatic comparisons or to highlight an extreme example within a category.
- Đây là món ngon đến mức tôi chưa từng ăn. (This is delicious to such an extent that I have never eaten anything like it.)
- Can be used with "không" to mean "not even to the extent of" or "so much as to" in negative constructions.
- Nó không bận đến mức không trả lời tin nhắn. (He is not so busy that he can't reply to a message.)
Variants and Related Words
Đến nỗi: to such an extent that; so that (often interchangeable with "đến mức," but can sometimes imply a more negative or regrettable consequence).
- Anh ta buồn đến nỗi bỏ ăn. (He was so sad that he stopped eating.)
Tới mức: a less common variant with the same meaning as "đến mức."
Synonyms
- To the point where: indicating a specific stage or degree is reached.
- So... that: used to express a cause-and-effect relationship of degree.
- Such that: in a way that results in.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Đến mức độ: to the degree/level (a more formal variant).
- Sự việc đã leo thang đến mức độ nguy hiểm. (The situation has escalated to a dangerous degree.)
- Đến mức không thể chịu nổi: to an unbearable extent.
- Cơn đau đến mức không thể chịu nổi. (The pain was unbearable.)