咁 + Adjective + 都

Still Doing It Even Though It's So...

Level 4Sounds Like jing4 jung4

Use 咁 (gam3) + Adjective + 都 (dou1) to say 'Even though it's so [Adjective], [Subject] still [Verb].' It highlights a contradiction that surprises the speaker.

How It Works

The structure 咁 (gam3) + Adjective + 都 is a staple of spoken Cantonese. It is more emotionally charged than the formal 雖然...但係... (although... but) construction.

1. The Requirement of 'Unexpectedness':
This pattern is only used when the second part of the sentence is unexpected or contrary to what the adjective suggests.

  • Natural: 咁貴都買 (gam3 gwai3 dou1 maai5) - 'So expensive, yet [he] still buys it.' (Unexpected)
  • Unexpected Negative: 咁平都唔買 (gam3 peng4 dou1 m4 maai5) - 'It's so cheap, yet he still doesn't buy it.' Note that 咁貴都唔買 does not normally mean 'Because it is expensive, I won't buy it' (for that, use 因為...所以..., or more naturally in spoken Cantonese, simply drop 都 and use a sentence-final particle or 就, e.g., 咁貴就唔買啦 gam3 gwai3 zau6 m4 maai5 laa1 or 咁貴，唔買啦 gam3 gwai3, m4 maai5 laa1).

2. Word Order:
The topic (the item being described) and the subject (the agent performing the action) can be arranged in a few ways:

  • [Subject] + 咁 + Adj + 都 + Verb (e.g., 佢咁攰都返工 keoi5 gam3 gui6 dou1 faan1 gung1) - The subject is both the entity described by the adjective and the one performing the action.
  • [Topic] + 咁 + Adj + [Subject] + 都 + Verb (e.g., 件衫咁貴佢都買 gin6 saam1 gam3 gwai3 keoi5 dou1 maai5)
  • 咁 + Adj + [Subject] + 都 + Verb (e.g., 咁貴佢都買 gam3 gwai3 keoi5 dou1 maai5) - This version drops the topic and puts more emphasis on the condition itself.

3. Adjective Phrases:
The second clause doesn't have to be a verb; it can also be an adjective phrase. For example, 佢咁有錢都咁孤寒 (keoi5 gam3 jau5 cin2 dou1 gam3 gu1 hon4) - 'He is so rich, yet so stingy.'

4. Common Variation: 都仲 (dou1 zung6):
In spoken Cantonese, 都 is very frequently paired with 仲 (zung6 - still) to form 都仲. This adds extra emphasis to the fact that the action or state continues despite the circumstances.

5. Fixed Expression: 咁 + Adj + 都 + 得:
This is an extremely common fixed expression used to express disbelief. For example, 咁貴都得？ (gam3 gwai3 dou1 dak1?) - 'It can be this expensive?!' / 'How is it possible that it's this expensive?!'

6. Nuance:
This pattern almost always carries a modal tone, expressing surprise, disapproval, or admiration depending on the context.

Examples (6)

  1. 咁貴你都買呀？

    You're buying it even though it's so expensive?

    Word by Word: So expensive you even buy [particle]?

    Here, 咁 (gam3) intensifies 'expensive' (貴 gwai3), and 都 (dou1) shows the surprise that the person is still buying it despite the high price.

  2. 佢咁衰你都仲鍾意佢？

    He is so mean, yet you still like him?

    Word by Word: He so bad you even still like him?

    This example pairs 都 (dou1) with 仲 (zung6) for extra emphasis on the persistence of the feeling despite the person's character.

  3. 佢咁攰都返工。

    He still goes to work even though he is so tired.

    Word by Word: He so tired even return work.

    This shows the common word order where the subject (佢 keoi5) is both the one who is tired and the one going to work.

  4. 佢咁有錢都咁孤寒。

    He is so rich, yet so stingy.

    Word by Word: He so have-money even so stingy.

    The second part of the sentence can be an adjective phrase instead of a verb, highlighting a contrasting characteristic.

  5. 咁平佢都唔買。

    It's so cheap, yet he still doesn't buy it.

    Word by Word: So cheap he even not buy.

    A negative action can be used if it is unexpected. Since it is cheap, you would expect him to buy it.

  6. 咁難都做得到，真係犀利！

    You managed to do it even though it's so hard, that's really impressive!

    Word by Word: So difficult even do-manage, really impressive!

    Uses 到 (dou2) to indicate the successful completion of a difficult task.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the '都' (dou1) marker.

    Different Meaning咁貴你買呀？
    咁貴你都買呀？

    咁貴你買呀？ is also a natural question of surprise. With 都 (dou1), 咁貴你都買呀？ spells out the 'even though it is so expensive' idea and sounds more pointed.

  • Confusing the tone of '咁' (gam3 vs gam2).

    噉貴都買 (gam2 gwai3 dou1 maai5)
    咁貴都買 (gam3 gwai3 dou1 maai5)

    In this pattern, you must use the mid-level tone 咁 (gam3) which means 'so/this'. The low-rising 噉 (gam2) means 'in this way' and is used for manner, not degree.

How It Connects

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

咁 + Adjective + 都Level 4Still Doing It Even Though It's So...

Learn This First

This pattern combines the degree marker '咁' (so) with the inclusive particle '都' (even) to express surprise or criticism that an action is occurring despite an extreme quality or condition. Learners need to understand how '咁' intensifies an adjective and how '都' functions as 'even' in concessive contexts.

Words in This Pattern