仲 + Adjective + 過

Even More than

Level 2

To say 'even more [adjective] than [B]' in Cantonese, use the formula: Item A + 仲 (zung6) + Adjective + 過 (gwo3) + Item B. The word 仲 goes before the adjective, while 過 goes right after it.

How It Works

The pattern 仲 + Adjective + 過 is the standard informal Cantonese structure for emphatic comparative sentences (meaning 'even more [Adj] than'). Note that 仲 (zung6) is frequently written as 重 (zung6) in written colloquial Cantonese and dictionaries.

1. Structure Breakdown:

  • Item A: Subject being compared
  • 仲 / 重 (zung6): Pre-verbal/pre-adjectival adverb meaning 'even' or 'still'
  • Adjective / Stative Verb: The quality being compared (e.g., 高 gou1 'tall', 熱 jit6 'hot', 好 hou2 'good')
  • 過 (gwo3): Comparative particle meaning 'than' / 'to exceed'
  • Item B: The baseline object of comparison

2. Cantonese vs. Mandarin Word Order:
Unlike Mandarin (which places the comparative marker 比 bǐ before Item B), Cantonese places the comparative particle 過 directly after the adjective:
• Mandarin: A + 比 + B + 還/更 + Adj
• Cantonese: A + 仲 + Adj + 過 + B

3. Use of 過 (gwo3) and 啲 (di1):
When Item B is explicitly stated, use 過 (e.g., 佢仲高過我 keoi5 zung6 gou1 gwo3 ngo5 - 'He is even taller than me'). If Item B is omitted, 啲 (di1) replaces 過 + B (e.g., 佢仲高啲 keoi5 zung6 gou1 di1 - 'He is even taller'). In addition, 啲 can also follow '過 + Item B' to mean 'a bit' or 'slightly' (e.g., 佢仲高過我啲 keoi5 zung6 gou1 gwo3 ngo5 di1 - 'He is even a bit taller than me').

Examples (4)

  1. 今次仲好過上次。

    This time is even better than last time.

    Word by Word: This time even good than last time.

    Here, 仲 (zung6) precedes the adjective 好 (hou2), and 過 (gwo3) introduces the comparison point 上次 (soeng6 ci3).

  2. 你仲開心過我。

    You are even happier than I am.

    Word by Word: You even happy than me.

    Demonstrates the pattern using the emotion adjective 開心 (hoi1 sam1).

  3. 今日仲潮濕過尋日。

    Today is even more humid than yesterday.

    Word by Word: Today even humid than yesterday.

    Compares weather conditions across two days using the adjective 潮濕 (ciu4 sap1, humid).

  4. 呢部手機仲貴過嗰部。

    This mobile phone is even more expensive than that one.

    Word by Word: This CL mobile phone even expensive than that CL.

    Compares two items (呢部手機 vs 嗰部) using the adjective 貴 (gwai3, expensive).

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 仲 after the adjective or after 過

    今次好仲過上次。
    今次仲好過上次。

    仲 (zung6) is an adverb of degree and must be placed before the adjective, never after it.

  • Thinking 比 (bei2) cannot be used to compare.

    Different Meaning佢比我仲高。
    佢仲高過我。

    佢比我仲高 is natural Cantonese: 比 (bei2) comparisons are common. 佢仲高過我 uses the 過 pattern. Both say he is even taller than me.

  • Combining 啲 (di1) and 過 (gwo3) when the target B is specified

    佢仲高啲過我。
    佢仲高過我。

    Do not attach 啲 (di1) to the adjective when the baseline item (我) is explicitly included with 過 (gwo3).

How It Connects

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仲 + Adjective + 過Level 2Even More than

Learn This First

To understand '仲+Adj+過' (even more than), you first need to be comfortable with the basic comparative structure 'Adj+過'. You also need to understand how degree markers like '仲' (even more) or '好' (very) interact with adjectives to change the intensity or nature of the comparison.

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Words in This Pattern

过