Neither of these needs 很很 hěn in front — 死了死了 sǐle attaches directly, while 厲害厉害 lìhài still needs 得得 de to link it to the verb or adjective.
1 Adj / Psych. Verb + 死了死了 sǐle
Literally “died,” but nobody’s actually dying here — 死了死了 sǐle is a loud, casual “to death” that works for both good and bad extremes. It attaches straight after the adjective or emotion verb, no 得得 needed.
今天天氣熱死了今天天气热死了
It’s hot as hell today.
他在路上撿到錢，高興死了他在路上捡到钱，高兴死了
He found money on the road and was thrilled to death.
🧧 Don’t Pick Up Money on the Road
In Taiwan there’s an old superstition that you should never pick up loose money you find lying on the street — especially if it’s in a red envelope. The belief is that it might be part of a “ghost marriage” (冥婚冥婚 mínghūn) ritual, where a family leaves cash on the ground as bait to arrange a spirit marriage for a deceased relative. Whoever picks it up is thought to be agreeing to the match! So even though finding money on the road might make you 高興死了高兴死了 gāoxìng sǐle, plenty of people will just leave it be, just in case.
你做的菜，我真的愛死了你做的菜，我真的爱死了
I absolutely love your cooking!
2 Adj / Psych. Verb + 得得 de + 厲害厉害 lìhài
厲害厉害 lìhài normally means “impressive” or “formidable,” but after 得得 de it just means “badly, severely” — it leans toward negative or uncomfortable situations, and unlike 死了死了 sǐle it does need 得得 de in front of it.
因為跟情人分手，這幾天她沮喪得厲害因为跟情人分手，这几天她沮丧得厉害
Because she broke up with her partner, she’s been feeling severely down these past few days.
聽說要打針，他害怕得厲害听说要打针，他害怕得厉害
He heard he needs a shot and got severely scared.
出國留學以後，他想家想得厲害出国留学以后，他想家想得厉害
After going abroad to study, he missed home terribly.
3 死了死了 sǐle vs 厲害厉害 lìhài
| 死了死了 sǐle | 得得 de + 厲害厉害 lìhài |
|---|
| Needs 得得 de | ❌ No — attaches directly | ✅ Yes |
| Tone | Positive or negative, casual, exaggerated | Mostly negative, a bit more serious |
| Feel | “to death,” playful | “badly, severely,” matter-of-fact |
4 Common Mistakes
Since 死了死了 sǐle attaches directly with no 得得 de, learners used to 得得 de + 厲害厉害 sometimes accidentally insert one.
❌
今天天氣熱得死了今天天气热得死了
✅
今天天氣熱死了今天天气热死了
死了死了 sǐle is a direct suffix, not a 得得 de + description pattern. Save the 得得 de for 厲害厉害 lìhài.
5 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01This movie is scary as hell.
這部電影恐怖死了这部电影恐怖死了
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02He coughed badly all night.
他咳嗽咳得厲害，咳了一整晚他咳嗽咳得厉害，咳了一整晚
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03I’m starving to death.
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04The traffic these past few days has been terrible.
這幾天塞車塞得厲害这几天塞车塞得厉害
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05Getting into her dream school made her overjoyed.
考上理想的學校，她高興死了考上理想的学校，她高兴死了
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06His hand hurt badly after he fell.
他摔倒以後，手痛得厲害他摔倒以后，手痛得厉害
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07This bubble tea is way too sweet.
這杯珍珠奶茶甜死了这杯珍珠奶茶甜死了
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08He was worried sick about the exam results.
他為考試結果擔心得厲害他为考试结果担心得厉害
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09I’m exhausted to death after work today.
今天下班後，我累死了今天下班后，我累死了
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10The wound still hurts badly, even after the medicine.
吃了藥，傷口還是痛得厲害吃了药，伤口还是痛得厉害
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