得滯

Too … (After the Adjective)

Level 3Sounds Like dak1 zai6

Adjective + 得滯 (dak1 zai6) = "Too [Adjective]" (usually with a negative nuance).

How It Works

1. Basic Usage
得滯 (dak1 zai6) functions as a suffix that attaches directly to adjectives or stative verbs. Unlike the English "too," which comes before the word, 得滯 always follows it.

2. The Negative Nuance
While 好 (hou2) is a neutral "very," 得滯 (dak1 zai6) implies that a limit has been crossed. Even with positive adjectives, it suggests a problem (e.g., 聰明得滯 cung1 ming4 dak1 zai6 - "too smart for one's own good").

3. Grammatical Constraints

  • Emphasis: While you cannot use 好 (hou2) with this pattern, it is very common to 'sandwich' an adjective between 太 (taai3) and 得滯 for extra emphasis (e.g., 太貴得滯 taai3 gwai3 dak1 zai6 - "way too expensive").
  • Negation: You cannot say "not too expensive" (*唔貴得滯). However, you can use it in negative commands with 唔好 (m4 hou2), such as "don't be too noisy" (唔好嘈得滯 m4 hou2 cou4 dak1 zai6).
  • Verb Structures: It can follow verb-result compounds, such as 食得飽得滯 (sik6 dak1 baau2 dak1 zai6) - "to have eaten until too full."

4. Idiomatic 'Indigestion'
The phrase 食得滯 (sik6 dak1 zai6) is the standard way to say you have indigestion or feel bloated from overeating.

5. Register
This is a hallmark of spoken Cantonese. In formal writing, speakers usually revert to 太 (taai3) or 太過 (taai3 gwo3).

Examples (5)

  1. 呢件衫大得滯，我著唔落。

    This shirt is too big; I can't fit into it.

    Word by Word: This piece [of] shirt big too-much, I wear not down.

    大 (daai6) means 'big'. Adding 得滯 (dak1 zai6) shows the size is an issue.

  2. 我頭先食得滯，而家個肚好唔舒服。

    I ate too much just now; now my stomach is very uncomfortable.

    Word by Word: I just-now eat too-much, now CL stomach very not comfortable.

    食得滯 (sik6 dak1 zai6) is a very common idiomatic expression meaning to have indigestion or feel uncomfortably full.

  3. 呢度太嘈得滯，我哋去第二度傾啦。

    It's way too noisy here; let's go somewhere else to talk.

    Word by Word: Here too noisy too-much, we go another place talk [particle].

    You can combine 太 (taai3) with 得滯 (dak1 zai6) to create a 'sandwich' structure for extra emphasis.

  4. 你唔好食得飽得滯呀，陣間仲要食甜品。

    Don't eat until you're too full; we still have to eat dessert later.

    Word by Word: You not good eat [potential] full too-much [particle], later still need eat dessert.

    Here, 得滯 follows the verb-result structure 食得飽 (sik6 dak1 baau2). It is also used here in a negative command 唔好 (m4 hou2).

  5. 佢頭先忙得滯，唔記得咗打畀你。

    He was too busy just now and forgot to call you.

    Word by Word: He just-now busy too-much, not remember [perfective] call to you.

    忙 (mong4) is a stative verb 'to be busy'. The excess busyness caused him to forget.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing the marker before the adjective.

    呢個得滯貴。
    呢個貴得滯。

    Unlike English 'too' or Mandarin 'tai', 得滯 (dak1 zai6) must always follow the adjective.

  • Using 'very' and 'too' together.

    好貴得滯。
    貴得滯。

    You cannot combine degree markers. Choose either 好 (hou2) for 'very' or 得滯 (dak1 zai6) for 'too'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

得滯Level 3Too … (After the Adjective)

Learn This First

To use '得滯' (dak1 zai6), you need to understand how adjectives work in Cantonese and be familiar with other degree markers. This pattern is unique because it places the 'too' intensifier after the adjective, which contrasts with the more common '太' (taai3) that comes before it.

Words in This Pattern

得滞