Adjective + 過 + B + 好多

How Much More

Level 2Sounds Like hou2 do1

To say something is much more [adjective] than something else in Cantonese, use the pattern: A + Adjective + 過 + B + 好多. Unlike English where degree modifiers go before the adjective (e.g., 'much taller than me'), Cantonese places the degree word 好多 (hou2 do1, 'much / a lot') at the very end of the clause after entity B.

How It Works

Making comparative sentences with precise differences in Cantonese is simple once you get comfortable with the word order.

1. Core Structural Breakdown
• Adjective + 過 (gwo3): The comparative particle 過 (gwo3, tone 3) attaches directly to the adjective (e.g., 高過 gou1 gwo3 'taller than', 貴過 gwai3 gwo3 'more expensive than').
• Standard of Comparison (Entity B): The entity you are comparing against immediately follows 過.
• Differential Modifier at the End: Expressing how much more goes at the end of the clause.

2. Common Extent Modifiers
• 好多 (hou2 do1): 'much / a lot'
• 啲 (di1) or 少少 (siu2 siu2): 'a bit / a little bit'
• Exact measure phrases: e.g., 兩歲 (loeng5 seoi3, 'two years of age'—note that 歲 seoi3 is the usual word for age, while 年 nin4 is used for duration or calendar years and is also heard for an age gap), 十蚊 (sap6 man1, 'ten dollars')

3. Absolute vs. Incremental Pre-Adjectival Adverbs
In simple descriptive sentences, Cantonese uses 好 (hou2) before adjectives (e.g., 佢好高 'he is very tall'). However, in a comparative construction with 過, absolute degree adverbs like 好 or 太 (taai3) cannot precede the adjective (e.g., ❌ 佢好高過我). Extent must be expressed after Entity B instead (e.g., 佢高過我好多). In contrast, incremental comparative adverbs such as 仲 (zung6, 'even') can and do precede the adjective (e.g., 佢仲高過我 'he is even taller than me').

4. Register Distinction
過 is the natural comparative marker across everyday spoken Cantonese contexts. The formal comparative construction using 比 (bei2) is also very common in everyday speech (as in 佢比我高) and in writing. Both are natural; 過 is the pattern this page teaches.

Examples (4)

  1. 佢高過我好多。

    He is much taller than me.

    Word by Word: He tall exceed me very-much.

    '高' (gou1) is the adjective, '過' (gwo3) marks 'than', '我' (ngo5) is entity B, and '好多' (hou2 do1) comes at the end.

  2. 呢部手機貴過嗰部少少。

    This mobile phone is a little bit more expensive than that one.

    Word by Word: This CL phone expensive exceed that CL a-little.

    Uses '少少' (siu2 siu2) at the end to specify a small difference.

  3. 廣東話難過英文好多。

    Cantonese is much more difficult than English.

    Word by Word: Cantonese difficult exceed English very-much.

    Compares the difficulty of two languages with '難' (naan4, difficult).

  4. 我大過佢兩歲。

    I am two years older than him.

    Word by Word: I big exceed him two years.

    Replaces '好多' with a precise age measure phrase '兩歲' (loeng5 seoi3, two years) at the end.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing absolute degree adverbs like 好 (hou2) before the adjective in a comparative sentence

    佢好高過我。
    佢高過我好多。

    Absolute degree adverbs like 好 (hou2, 'very') cannot precede the adjective in a comparative construction with 過 (gwo3). Place 好多 (hou2 do1) after Entity B instead. Note that incremental comparative adverbs like 仲 (zung6, 'even') can still precede the adjective (e.g., 佢仲高過我).

  • Placing the extent modifier before Entity B

    佢高過好多我。
    佢高過我好多。

    Entity B (我 ngo5) must directly follow 過 (gwo3). Extent modifiers like 好多 (hou2 do1) must go after Entity B.

  • Thinking 比 (bei2) is too formal for speech.

    Different Meaning佢比我高好多。
    佢高過我好多。

    佢比我高好多 is natural in everyday speech too. 高過我好多 is the other common Cantonese pattern. Both mean the same, so you can use either one.

How It Connects

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

Adjective + 過 + B + 好多Level 2How Much More

Learn This First

To understand how to express the size of a difference in a comparison, you first need to know the basic comparative structure using '過'. You also need to be familiar with degree markers and quantifiers like '好多' (a lot) and '少少' (a little) which are placed after the comparison to specify the magnitude of the difference.

Words in This Pattern

过