Vietnamese Grammar Bank
EXCESSIVENESS IN VIETNAMESE
In this lesson, you will learn how to express excessiveness in Vietnamese using phrases like quá mức, thật sự, hơn mong đợi, and rất.
These expressions help you describe situations, feelings, or actions that go beyond the usual or expected level.
QUÁ… = TOO
The structure “quá” is used to indicate that something is excessively or extremely high in degree. It is equivalent to “too” or “excessively” in English.
PATTERN
Quá + Adjective
For example:
| Cái áo này quá lớn đối với tôi. | This shirt is too big for me |
| Món ăn quá cay | The food is too spicy |
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| Bây giờ đã quá muộn để ra ngoài | It’s too late to go out now |
| Cô ấy quá mệt để tiếp tục làm việc | She is too tired to continue working |
| Bộ phim quá dài. | The movie is too long |
| Thời tiết hôm nay quá nóng | The weather is too hot today |
QUÁ MỨC = OVERLY
“Quá mức” is a more formal way to express that something is excessively beyond acceptable limits, similar to “overly” or “exceedingly” in English.
PATTERN
Quá mức + Adjective
For example:
| Cái áo này quá mức lớn đối với tôi. | This shirt is overly big for me |
| Món ăn quá mức cay | The food is overly spicy |
| Bây giờ đã quá mức muộn để ra ngoài | It’s overly late to go out now |
| Cô ấy quá mức mệt để tiếp tục làm việc | She is overly tired to continue working |
| Bộ phim quá mức dài. | The movie is overly long |
| Thời tiết hôm nay quá mức nóng | The weather is overly hot today |
RẤT = VERY
“Rất” is used to indicate a high degree of a quality or action, similar to “very” or “extremely” in English. While not always excessive, it often emphasizes intensity.
PATTERN
Rất + Adjective
For example:
| Cái áo này rất lớn đối với tôi. | This shirt is very big for me |
| Món ăn rất cay | The food is very spicy |
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| Bây giờ đã rất muộn để ra ngoài | It’s very late to go out now |
| Cô ấy rất mệt để tiếp tục làm việc | She is very tired to continue working |
| Bộ phim rất dài. | The movie is very long |
| Thời tiết hôm nay rất nóng | The weather is very hot today |
THẬT SỰ = REALLY
“Thật sự” adds emphasis, meaning “truly too” or “really too,” highlighting the speaker’s strong feeling about the excessiveness.
PATTERN
Thật sự + Adjective
For example:
| Cái áo này thật sự lớn đối với tôi. | This shirt is really big for me |
| Món ăn thật sự cay. | The food is really spicy |
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| Bây giờ đã thật sự muộn để ra ngoài | It’s really late to go out now |
| Cô ấy thật sự mệt để tiếp tục làm việc | She is really tired to continue working |
| Bộ phim thật sự dài. | The movie is really long |
| Thời tiết hôm nay thật sự nóng | The weather is really hot today |
HƠN MONG ĐỢI = MORE THAN EXPECTED
This phrase means “more than expected” or “exceeding expectations,” which can imply an excessive amount or degree.
PATTERN
Adjective + hơn mong đợi
For example:
| Bộ phim hay hơn mong đợi | The movie was much better than I expected |
| Buổi hòa nhạc hay hơn mong đợi. | The concert was far better than I imagined. |
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| Món ăn ngon hơn mong đợi | The food was tastier than I thought it would be. |
| Phần biểu diễn của anh ấy tốt hơn mong đợi | His performance was much better than I expected. |
| Kỳ thi dễ hơn mong đợi | The exam was easier than I had expected. |
| Thời tiết hôm nay tốt hơn mong đợi | The weather today is better than expected. |
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FAQs
What is the difference between “quá mức” and “rất”?
“Quá mức” means “excessively” or “too much,” implying something has gone beyond a reasonable limit, while “rất” simply means “very” and is a neutral intensifier.
Can “thật sự” be used interchangeably with “rất”?
Not always.
“Thật sự” emphasizes truth or sincerity (e.g., “really”), while “rất” emphasizes degree. They serve slightly different functions even if both add emphasis.
When do I use “hơn mong đợi”?
Use “hơn mong đợi” when something exceeds expectations.
It implies a positive or surprising excess, rather than a negative one.
Can I use “quá mức” in both positive and negative contexts?
It’s generally used in negative contexts to express that something is excessive or overdone, such as “ăn quá mức” (eating too much).
Are these expressions commonly used in daily conversation?
Yes.
While some like “quá mức” are more formal, words like “rất” and “thật sự” are frequently used in everyday Vietnamese.
Can I study in Vietnam with LTL?
Yes, you can!
You can study with us in Saigon or Hanoi, in both group or individual classes.
You’ll even have the opportunity to live with a Vietnamese family, thanks to our homestays.