足

• Pinyin: zú
• Hanzi breakdown: 足 = pictograph of a foot with ankle and toes

Meaning

Sufficient; enough; fully. As a noun: foot. As an adjective: ample, adequate.

As an adjective/adverb, 足 emphasizes that something is fully adequate or more than enough. Often used to modify quantities, durations, or degrees. As a noun, it's a literary word for foot (口语 uses 脚). Appears in compounds like 足够 (enough), 满足 (satisfy), 足球 (football), 充足 (ample).

Examples

1. 我们准备了足足三个月，才把这场活动办好。 We prepared for a full three months before successfully organizing this event.
2. 他的理由足以说服所有人，没有人再提出异议。 His reasons were sufficient to convince everyone; no one raised any further objections.
3. 虽然工资不高，但足够我日常开销了。 Although the salary isn't high, it's enough for my daily expenses.

Usage Guide

Context: quantities, emphasis, adequacy

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 时间足够，不用着急。(There's enough time; no need to rush.)
• 他等了足足两个小时。(He waited for a full two hours.)

Don't Say

• 我的足很痛。(Use 脚 for foot in daily speech — 足 sounds literary or is used in compounds)

Origin & History

Pictograph of a foot with toes. The meaning of 'sufficient' comes from the idea of something being complete or whole, like a foot with all its parts.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal