足る

• Reading: たる
• Romaji: taru
• Kanji breakdown: 足 (soku/ta) — foot; to be sufficient
• Pronunciation: /ta.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be sufficient; to be worth; to deserve. Asserts that something meets a required standard or merits consideration.

A Group 1 (godan) verb. Most commonly encountered in the negative form 足りない (not enough) or in elevated set phrases such as 取るに足らない (not worth bothering with). The affirmative form 足る is markedly literary and is rarely used in casual speech.

Examples

1. 彼の業績は称賛に足るものだ。 His achievements are worthy of praise.
2. その根拠は信頼に足る証拠とは言えない。 That basis cannot be considered evidence sufficient to warrant trust.
3. 一時間あれば作業を終えるのに足る。 One hour is sufficient to finish the work.

Usage Guide

Context: academic writing, formal speech, literature

Tone: literary

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 足 carries the dual meanings of 'foot/leg' and 'to suffice.' The verb たる evolved from classical Japanese to express sufficiency or merit, and survives primarily in formal and literary registers.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical-Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated