▎死了, sĭle, A Post-Verbal Intensifier, terribly

 

Function The post-verbal intensifier 死了 indicates extreme degree and is usually used for complaining.

1 他念的是自己沒興趣的科系，痛苦死了。

Tā niàn de shì zìjǐ méi xìngqù de kēxì, tòngkǔ sǐle.

He’s studying a major he has no interest in. He couldn’t be more miserable.

2 申請居留證的手續麻煩死了，他不想辦居留證了。

Shēnqǐng jūliúzhèng de shǒuxù máfan sǐle, tā bù xiǎng bàn jūliúzhèng le.

Applying for an ARC is a royal pain. He doesn’t want to apply anymore.

3 這條路好長，走起來累死了。

Zhè tiáo lù hǎo cháng, zǒuqǐlái lèi sǐle.

This road is really long. It’s exhausting to walk it.

4 檸檬酸死了。我的烤魚上面不要加檸檬。

Níngméng suān sǐle. Wǒ de kǎoyú shàngmiàn bú yào jiā níngméng.

Lemon is way too tart. Don’t put any on my grilled fish.

5 你別再打電腦了，吵死了。

Nǐ bié zài dǎ diànnǎo le, chǎo sǐle.

Get off the computer. The noise is bugging the heck out of me.

 

Usage

(1) The post-verbal 死了sǐle is similar to 極了jíle, 得不得了de bùdéliǎo, and 得很de hěn. They all express intensity, but 死了carries the highest intensity, though negatively.

(2) When 死了 is used, most of the time, it is about something negative with a handful of exceptions, e.g., 高興死了gāoxìng sǐle ‘terribly pleased’, 羨慕死了xiànmù sǐle ‘terribly envious’, 樂死了lè sǐle ‘extremely happy’.

(3) English has a similar pattern, e.g., He was frightened to death.