Adjective + 到爆

Extremely (Bursting)

Level 4Sounds Like dou3 baau3

Adj + 到爆 (dou3 baau3) is a high-energy, slangy way to say something is 'extremely' or 'super' [Adjective]. It literally means 'to the point of bursting'.

How It Works

This pattern is a staple of modern, informal Cantonese. While 'bursting' might sound negative, it is used for both positive and negative qualities.

1. Structure:
The pattern follows the standard extent complement structure: [Adjective/Stative Verb] + 到 (dou3) + 爆 (baau3).

  • 靚到爆 (leng3 dou3 baau3) — Extremely pretty
  • 攰到爆 (gui6 dou3 baau3) — Exhausted to the max

2. Usage and Register:
This is highly colloquial. It is perfect for chatting with friends, social media, or casual storytelling. However, avoid using it in formal settings like job interviews or when speaking to elders, as it can sound overly 'street' or immature (often associated with 'MK culture' in Hong Kong).

3. Difference from Mandarin:
Learners coming from Mandarin might be tempted to use 了 (le) as an intensifier. In Cantonese, you must use 到 (dou3) to link the adjective to the result 'bursting'.

4. Verbs:
It can also be used with psychological verbs (emotions):

  • 驚到爆 (geng1 dou3 baau3) — Scared to death
  • 嬲到爆 (nau1 dou3 baau3) — Super angry

Examples (4)

  1. 呢間餐廳啲嘢食好味到爆！

    The food at this restaurant is unbelievably delicious!

    Word by Word: This [classifier] restaurant's food delicious to burst!

    Here, 好味 (hou2 mei6 - delicious) is intensified to show the speaker is very impressed.

  2. 尋晚嗰套戲悶到爆，我睇到一半就走咗。

    Last night's movie was boring as hell; I left halfway through.

    Word by Word: Last night that [classifier] movie boring to burst, I watch to half then leave [perfective].

    悶 (mun6 - boring) is a common adjective used with this pattern to express extreme dissatisfaction.

  3. 行咗成日，我而家攰到爆呀。

    I've been walking all day; I'm exhausted to the max right now.

    Word by Word: Walk [perfective] whole day, I now tired to burst [particle].

    攰 (gui6 - tired) is frequently paired with 到爆 to emphasize physical exhaustion.

  4. 佢份人叻到爆，次次考試都攞滿分。

    He is super smart; he gets full marks on every exam.

    Word by Word: He [classifier] person smart to burst, every time exam all get full marks.

    叻 (lek1 - smart/capable) shows that the pattern works perfectly for positive traits.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping 到 and saying 靚爆 on its own.

    Different Meaning呢件衫靚爆！
    呢件衫靚到爆！

    靚爆 is a natural short slang form in casual talk. 靚到爆 is the fuller version, and it fits more kinds of sentences, so it is the safer form to learn first.

  • Using it in formal contexts.

    經理，我今日忙到爆。
    經理，我今日非常忙。

    Using '到爆' with a manager or elder is too informal. Use 非常 (fei1 soeng4) or 好 (hou2) in professional settings.

How It Connects

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

Adjective + 到爆Level 4Extremely (Bursting)

Learn This First

To understand 'Adj+到爆', you first need to know how adjectives work in Cantonese and how the particle '到' is used to express the extent or degree of a state. '爆' (burst) acts as a slangy intensifier within this existing grammatical framework.

Words in This Pattern

爆