Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 够
The word 够 (gòu) in Chinese is a versatile term that means “enough” or “sufficient,” commonly used to express adequacy in various contexts.
We teach you how to use 够 with nouns, verbs, and phrases, helping you master this essential word.
EXPRESSING SUFFICIENCY
“够” (gòu) is the less formal or neural way of saying “enough”, “足够“ (zúgòu).
PATTERN
Subject / Object + 够 + Verb / Purpose
Key points:
➡️ Often paired with 了 (le) to indicate completion or satisfaction.
| 钱够了。 | Qián gòu le. | The money is enough. |
| 饭够了，不用再添。 | Fàn gòu le, bù yòng zài tiān. | The food is enough, no need to add more. |
➡️ Can be used in questions with 吗 (ma) or 不 (bu).
| 时间够吗？ | Shíjiān gòu ma? | Is there enough time? |
| 人手够不够？ | Rénshǒu gòu bù gòu? | Are there enough staff? |
➡️ Commonly used with everyday necessities and resources.
| 钱够了吗？ | Qián gòu le ma? | Is there enough money? |
| 这些食物够吃了。 | Zhèxiē shíwù gòu chī le. | This food is enough to eat. |
| 时间不够用。 | Shíjiān bù gòu yòng. | There’s not enough time. |
COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSIONS
In casual speech, “够” is frequently used in colloquial expressions and idioms.
These expressions often carry emotional weight or emphasis.
Many of these phrases have become standard ways to express approval, criticism, or amazement.
With 的 for emphasis:
| 这够狠的！ | Zhè gòu hěn de! | That’s really harsh! |
| 这个笑话够有意思的。 | Zhège xiàohua gòu yǒu yìsi de. | This joke is funny enough. |
Expressing approval:
| 够朋友! | Gòu péngyou | You’re a true friend! |
| 够意思！ | Gòu yìsi! | That’s very kind! (Informal) |
Expressing difficulty:
| 够呛。 | Gòu qiàng. | Unlikely (to make it) |
| 考试够难的。 | Kǎoshì gòu nán de. | The exam is quite difficult. |
Usage notes:
➡️ Often used with 的 (de) for emphasis
➡️ Can express both positive and negative feelings
➡️ Frequently used in informal conversations
➡️ Tone and context are important for interpretation
| 够朋友！ | Gòu péngyou! | You’re a true friend! |
| 够呛。 | Gòu qiàng. | Unlikely/It’s tough/difficult. |
| 受够了。 | Shòu gòu le. | Had enough of this. |
NOTE || These example expressions should be used in informal contexts.
NEGATIVE EXPRESSIONS WITH 不够
The negative form “不够” is used to express insufficiency or inadequacy.
It’s particularly common in situations where something fails to meet expectations or requirements.
PATTERN
Subject + 不够 + Quality / Standard
| 不够长。 | Bù gòu cháng. | Not long enough. |
| 经验不够。 | Jīngyàn bù gòu. | Lack of experience. |
| 实力不够。 | Shílì bù gòu. | Not strong enough. |
够 VS 足够
“够” expresses the concept of “enough,” and it’s derived as a short form of the word “足够” (zúgòu).
They both mean “enough” or “efficient”, while “足够“ is more formal.
足够 (zúgòu)
➡️ Formal or neutral
➡️ Often used in professional or academic contexts
➡️ More commonly used in written documents
| 份预算足够支付所有开支。 | Gōngsī chǔbèi zījīn zúgòu yìngduì wéijī | This budget is sufficient to cover all expenses. |
| 公司储备资金足够应对危机。 | Gōngsī chǔbèi zījīn zúgòu yìngduì wéijī. | The company’s reserve funds are sufficient to handle the crisis. |
够 (gòu)
➡️ Neutral or informal
➡️ Often used in daily conversation
➡️ Can form more idiomatic expressions
➡️ More commonly used in spoken language
| 饭够吃吗？ | Fàn gòu chī ma? | Is there enough food to eat? |
| 衣服够暖和。 | Yīfu gòu nuǎnhuo. | The clothes are warm enough. |
Comparison table
| 够 | 足够 |
|---|---|
|
这笔钱够用了。
zhè bǐ qián gòu yòng le. This money is enough to use. |
这笔钱足够支付所有费用。
zhè bǐ qián zúgòu zhīfù suǒyǒu fèiyòng. This money is sufficient to pay all expenses. |
|
够热了吗？
gòu rè le ma? Is it hot enough? | (Less common)
温度足够高了吗?
wēndù zúgòu gāo le ma? Is the temperature sufficiently high? |
|
他够格了。
tā gòu gé le. he’s qualified. |
他的资历足够担任这个职位。
tā de zīlì zúgòu dānrèn zhège zhíwèi. His qualifications are sufficient for this position. |
够 + VERB
Not only “够” can be used to express “enough”, it can also mean reaching something with verbs, such as reaching a physical object.
| 你可以够到那书架上的书吗？ | Nǐ kěyǐ gòu dào nà shūjià shàng de shū ma? | Can you reach the books on that shelf? |
| 他够不到那边的窗户。 | Tā gòu bù dào nàbiān de chuānghù. | He can’t reach the window on that side. |
| 小狗够不到餐桌上的食物。 | Xiǎogǒu gòu bù dào cānzhuō shàng de shíwù. | The puppy can’t reach the food on the table. |
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FAQs
What does 够 mean in Chinese?
够 means “enough” or “sufficient” and is used to express adequacy in quantity, quality, or degree.
How do you use 够 in a sentence?
It can be used as an adjective or adverb, e.g., 钱够了 (qián gòu le), meaning “The money is enough,” or 我吃得够了 (wǒ chī de gòu le), meaning “I’ve eaten enough.”
Can 够 be used with both nouns and verbs?
Yes, it can describe sufficiency of nouns (e.g., 食物够了, “The food is enough”) or adequacy in actions (e.g., 他够努力了, “He has worked hard enough”).
What’s the difference between 够 and 足够?
足够 (zúgòu) is more formal and emphasizes sufficiency, while 够 is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
Can 够 be used to express beyond sufficiency?
Yes, 够 can sometimes imply exceeding limits in casual speech, like in 你够了 (nǐ gòu le), meaning “That’s enough (stop it).”
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