quá + Adjective

Too Much of It

Level 3

The word quá placed before an adjective means "too [adjective]" or "so [adjective]". It can show that a quality exceeds a normal limit, or simply express a strong emotional reaction.

How It Works

In Vietnamese, quá can be placed before or after an adjective.

1. Before the adjective (quá + Adj):
This can mean "too [adjective]" when describing a problematic excess (e.g., quá đắt = too expensive). On its own, this structure sounds more formal, written, or like an advertisement. To make it highly colloquial, it is usually paired with luôn (e.g., quá đẹp luôn! = so beautiful!).

2. After the adjective (Adj + quá):
Placing quá after the adjective is the dominant everyday spoken exclamation meaning "So [adj]!" or "Too [adj]!" (e.g., đắt quá! = so expensive!).

3. No copula needed:
Because Vietnamese adjectives work like verbs, you generally do not need the word là (to be) before this pattern in standard descriptive sentences. Just say Nó quá đắt (It is too expensive). While là can sometimes be used for strong emphasis or contrast, it is usually omitted.

4. Adding emphasis particles:
To make your speech sound more natural, you can add intensifying particles. Quá + Adj is often followed by luôn for emphasis (e.g., Quá đẹp luôn!). Meanwhile, when quá is placed after the adjective (Adj + quá), it is often followed by đi. In Southern Vietnamese slang, you will frequently hear quá trời or quá trời luôn (e.g., Ngon quá trời luôn! = So incredibly delicious!). Northern speakers, however, rarely use this and prefer words like cực kỳ / vô cùng.

5. With emotion verbs:
This exact same pattern also applies to psychological or emotion verbs (like thích, nhớ, or yêu). You can say quá thích or thích quá to mean "like it so much!".

6. Negation:
To say "not too [adjective]", place không before quá (e.g., không quá đắt = not too expensive) for a standard or formal tone. In everyday colloquial speech, however, native speakers frequently say không đắt quá. Another very common and natural alternative is using không + Adjective + lắm (e.g., không đắt lắm = not very expensive).

7. Too [adjective] to [verb]:
To express that something is too [adjective] to do something, use để (to/in order to) to connect the action: quá đắt để mua (too expensive to buy).

8. So [adjective] that:
To express that something is "so [adjective] that...", use the structure quá... đến nỗi (mà)... (e.g., Nó quá đắt đến nỗi tôi không mua = It is so expensive that I didn't buy it).

Examples (5)

  1. Cái xe ô tô đó quá đắt. Tôi sẽ không mua nó đâu.

    That car is too expensive. I won't buy it.

    Word by Word: Classifier car automobile that too expensive. I will not buy it [particle].

    Shows how the excess (too expensive) prevents an action (buying it).

  2. Trời quá nóng, không thể ra ngoài được.

    It is too hot, we cannot go outside.

    Word by Word: Sky too hot, not able go out outside get.

    A natural way to express that an excess prevents an action, avoiding the unnatural English 'too... to...' structure.

  3. Bài tập này quá khó.

    This exercise is too difficult.

    Word by Word: Exercise this too difficult.

    Notice that there is no word for "is" (là) before "quá".

  4. Món ăn này quá ngon luôn!

    This dish is so delicious!

    Word by Word: Dish eat this too delicious right-away!

    Shows how "quá + Adjective" is frequently used for enthusiastic positive compliments, often paired with "luôn" for extra emphasis.

  5. Cái áo này quá đắt để mua.

    This shirt is too expensive to buy.

    Word by Word: Classifier shirt this too expensive to buy.

    Shows how to use "để" (to / in order to) to express the "too [adjective] to [verb]" structure.

Common Mistakes

  • Unnecessarily adding the verb "to be" (là) in standard descriptive sentences.

    Cái áo này là quá nhỏ.
    Cái áo này quá nhỏ.

    English requires "is/are" before adjectives, but Vietnamese adjectives function as predicates on their own. While "là" can occasionally be used for strong emphasis or contrast, it is generally not needed and usually omitted before "quá + Adjective" in standard descriptions.

  • Overusing "không quá + Adjective" in casual conversation instead of more natural spoken alternatives.

    Different MeaningBộ phim này không quá hay.
    Bộ phim này không hay lắm.

    "Không quá + Adjective" is grammatically correct and common in both formal and casual speech ('not that good'). Learners often use it for everything, so it helps to know the other options: không + Adjective + lắm (not very), which is a little more colloquial.

  • Stacking multiple degree modifiers like "rất" and "quá" together.

    Cái áo này rất đắt quá.
    Cái áo này rất đắt.

    Beginners often try to combine rất (very) and quá (too/so) in the same phrase. This sounds unnatural and is usually avoided in Vietnamese; choose only one degree modifier.

How It Connects

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

quá + AdjectiveLevel 3Too Much of It

Learn This First

To use 'quá' (too/excessive) correctly, you need to understand how adjectives function in Vietnamese sentences and how they differ from other degree markers like 'rất' (very) or 'lắm' (very/extremely).

Words in This Pattern