不够

• Pinyin: bù gòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = pictograph of a bird flying upward, meaning 'not'; 够 = 句 (hook, phonetic) + 多 (many)

Meaning

Not enough; insufficient. Used to express that something falls short of a required amount or standard.

Combines 不 (not) and 够 (enough) to indicate a shortfall in quantity, quality, or degree. Can modify nouns directly or stand alone as a predicate. Very common in daily conversation for expressing that something is lacking.

Examples

1. 这些钱不够，我们还需要五十块。 This money isn't enough — we still need fifty more yuan.
2. 时间不够了，我们快一点吧。 There's not enough time — let's hurry up.
3. 这些菜不够吃，再点两个吧。 This food isn't enough — let's order two more dishes.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, shopping, time

Tone: direct

Do Say

• 钱不够，我再去取一点。(The money isn't enough — I'll go get some more.)
• 这些水果不够两个人吃。(This fruit isn't enough for two people.)

Don't Say

• 我不够喜欢他。(Don't use 不够 before verbs to mean 'not enough' — say 我不太喜欢他 or 我对他的喜欢不够 instead.)

Origin & History

A straightforward negation compound: 不 (not) + 够 (enough). The structure mirrors English 'not enough.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal