Adjective + 到痺

So Much It Goes Numb

Level 5Sounds Like dou3 bei3

Adj + 到痺 (dou3 bei3) is a colloquial intensifier used to describe a quality or emotion so extreme it causes a metaphorical (or literal) sensation of numbness or tingling.

How It Works

The pattern Adj + 到痺 is a classic example of Hong Kong-style colloquialism. It serves as a degree complement, following the adjective directly.

1. Usage and Nuance
The word 痺 (bei3) specifically refers to the 'pins and needles' sensation (paresthesia). While it can describe literal physical numbness (like eating something very sour), it is more frequently used as a hyperbolic intensifier. It implies a sensation so strong it 'shocks' the nerves. It is particularly common when describing things that are 'cringe-worthy' or overly cheesy, such as 肉麻到痺 (juk6 maa4 dou3 bei3).

2. Grammatical Structure
The structure is Adjective + 到 (dou3) + 痺 (bei3). Unlike some other intensifiers, you should not use 好 (hou2) before the adjective, as 到痺 already represents the maximum degree.

3. Register
This is strictly informal/slang. It was particularly trendy in the 80s and 90s. While still widely understood and used, younger speakers might opt for 到爆 (dou3 baau3) for a similar effect. Using 到痺 gives your Cantonese a slightly 'classic' or 'old-school' Hong Kong flavor.

Examples (5)

  1. 佢今日套衫真係型到痺！

    His outfit today is seriously cool to the point of numbness!

    Word by Word: He today set clothes really cool until numb!

    Here, 型 (jing4) means 'cool' or 'stylish.' Adding 到痺 (dou3 bei3) emphasizes that the style is overwhelmingly impressive.

  2. 尋日喺街撞到前度，真係尷尬到痺。

    I ran into my ex on the street yesterday; it was extremely embarrassing.

    Word by Word: Yesterday at street bump-into ex, really embarrassed until numb.

    尷尬 (gaam3 gaai3) means 'embarrassed.' 到痺 (dou3 bei3) intensifies the cringing feeling.

  3. 呢杯檸檬茶酸到痺呀！

    This lemon tea is incredibly sour!

    Word by Word: This cup lemon tea sour until numb [particle]!

    In this context, the numbness might be literal, describing the physical 'pins and needles' sensation caused by the extreme sourness (酸 syun1).

  4. 睇佢哋兩個放閃，真係肉麻到痺。

    Watching those two show off their affection is so cheesy it makes me cringe.

    Word by Word: Watch they two release flash, really flesh-numb until numb.

    肉麻 (juk6 maa4) literally means 'flesh-numb' (goosebumps) and refers to something overly sentimental or cheesy. Adding 到痺 (dou3 bei3) creates a double emphasis on the physical sensation of cringing.

  5. 嗰套戲嘅特技真係正到痺。

    The special effects in that movie are absolutely excellent.

    Word by Word: That set movie [possessive] special-effects really excellent until numb.

    正 (zing3) is a common slang term for 'excellent' or 'great.' This is a very common positive use of the pattern.

Common Mistakes

  • Using '到痺' in formal writing or business contexts.

    呢個計劃好到痺。
    呢個計劃非常之好。

    到痺 (dou3 bei3) is very casual slang. In formal situations, use standard intensifiers like 非常之 (fei1 soeng4 zi1) or 極之 (gik6 zi1).

  • Adding '好' (very) before the adjective.

    佢好型到痺。
    佢型到痺。

    Because 到痺 (dou3 bei3) is already a maximal intensifier, adding 好 (hou2) is redundant and sounds unnatural to native speakers.

How It Connects

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

Adjective + 到痺Level 5So Much It Goes Numb

Learn This First

The pattern 'Adj+到痺' is an extreme slang intensifier. It builds upon the standard '到' extent construction, where '到' (dou3) links an adjective to a result or degree. In this case, the result is '痺' (bei3), meaning 'numb' or 'tingling', used figuratively to mean 'to the extreme'.

Words in This Pattern

到痹