足够

• Pinyin: zú gòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 足 = pictograph of a foot, extended to mean 'sufficient'; 够 = 多 (many) + 句 (sentence/phrase), meaning to reach or be enough

Meaning

Sufficient; enough. Indicates that a quantity or degree meets what is needed.

Used to express that something is adequate or meets a required standard. Can modify nouns (足够的时间 = enough time) or be used as a predicate (时间足够 = the time is sufficient). Slightly more formal than 够, and often used in both spoken and written Chinese to discuss resources, abilities, or conditions.

Examples

1. 我们带的水足够喝一天的。 The water we brought is enough to last a whole day.
2. 只要有足够的时间，他一定能完成这个任务。 As long as there is enough time, he can definitely finish this task.
3. 你的准备足够充分了，不用紧张。 Your preparation is thorough enough; there's no need to be nervous.

Usage Guide

Context: planning, everyday, assessment

Tone: measured

Do Say

• 你带的钱足够吗？(Is the money you brought sufficient?)
• 我们有足够的理由相信他。(We have sufficient reason to trust him.)

Don't Say

• 这个菜足够好吃。(Don't use 足够 to intensify adjectives like 好吃 — it means 'sufficient,' not 'very'; use 非常 or 特别 for emphasis)

Origin & History

足 (foot, sufficient) + 够 (enough, to reach). Both characters carry the meaning of 'enough,' creating an emphatic compound meaning 'fully sufficient.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal