Good enough with够
In Chinese the word for "enough" often comes before a verb, rather than after an adjective.
Contents
- Structure
- Examples
- See also
- Sources and further reading
- Books
Structure
Sometimes you'll see a 了 added after the verb for emphasis (as in "no, really, it's enough!").
Examples
- 我们 买 了 很 多 菜，肯定 够 吃。
Wǒmen mǎi le hěnduō cài, kěndìng gòu chī.
We bought a lot of food. It must be good enough to eat.
- 他 带 了 好 多 衣服 ，应该 够 换。
Tā dài le hǎo duō yīfu, yīnggāi gòu huàn.
He brought a lot of clothes. It should be enough to change.
- 我们 只 有 三 个 人，你 的 车 肯定 够 坐。
Wǒmen zhǐ yǒu sān gè rén, nǐ de chē kěndìng gòu zuò.
We only have three people. I'm sure your car is big enough to sit in.
- 这些 菜 够 吃 了，不要 再 买 了。
Zhèxiē cài gòu chī le, bù yào zài mǎi le.
This food is enough to eat. Don't buy more.
- 我 带 的 钱 够 用 了 ，你 不用 带 了。
Wǒ dài de qián gòu yòng le, nǐ bù yòng dài le.
I've brought enough money to spend. You don't need to bring any.
Not enough with不够
Structure
Examples
- 你 家 太 小 了，恐怕 不够 住。
Nǐ jiā tài xiǎo le, kǒngpà bùgòu zhù.
Your house is too small. I'm afraid it's not big enough to live in.
- 你 的 包 太 小 了，这些 东西 肯定不够 放。
Nǐ de bāo tài xiǎo le, zhème duō dōngxi kěndìng bùgòu fàng.
You bag is too small. This stuff definitely can't fit in it.
- 办公室 的 纸 不够 用 了，你 明天 去 买 一些 吧。
Bàngōngshì de zhǐ bùgòu yòng le, nǐ míngtiān qù mǎi yīxiē ba.
The paper in the office is not enough to use. You should go buy some tomorrow.
- 我 这个 月 的 钱 不够 花 了，你 能 不 能 借 我 五 百？
Wǒ de qián bùgòu huā le, nǐ néng bu néng jiè wǒ wǔ bǎi?
I don't have enough money to spend this month. Could you lend me five hundred kuai?
Expressing "had enough of it" with够了
When a verb is followed by "够了," it means the speaker is "getting sick of [doing] something" or "done with [doing] something."
Structure
Examples
- 别 说 了！ 这些 话 我 已经 听 够 了！
Bié shuō le, zhèxiē huà wǒ yǐjīng tīng gòu le.
Stop talking! I've heard enough of it!
- 你 今天 玩 游戏 已经 玩 了 三 个 小时 了，玩 够 了 没有？！
Nǐ jīntiān wán yóuxì yǐjīng wǎn le sān gè xiǎoshí le, wán gòu le méiyǒu?!
You've been playing games for three hours today. Are you not done yet?
- 我 受 够 了！我 一定 要 跟 他 离婚！
Wǒ shòu gòu le! Wǒ yīdìng yào gēn tā líhūn!
I had enough of him. I'm definitely going to divorce him.
- 你 天天 都 叫 外卖，还没 吃 够 吗？
Nǐ tiāntiān dū jiào wàimài, hái méi chī gòu ma?
You order takeout every day. Haven't you gotten sick of eating it?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
Expressing "enough" with "gou"
(Redirected from ASG49BE6)
Level B1
Similar to
Used for
Describing degree, Expressing attitude
Keywords
够, 了, 够了
Translations
enough
In Chinese the word for "enough" is 够 (gòu). It also combines with other words and most often comes before verbs and adjectives, but there are a limited number of verbs that it can follow as well.
Contents
1 Affirmative Form
1.1 Structure
1.2 Examples
2 Negative Form
2.1 Structure
2.2 Examples
3 Colloquial Saying
4 See also
5 Sources and further reading
5.1 Books
Affirmative Form
Structure
够 + Verb / Adj. + 了
The 了 is not strictly required, but it adds a sense of emphasis.
Examples
In these examples, 够 (gòu) comes before verbs. You'll notice that who is doing the verb to what is normally just understood in context.
我们 买 了 很 多 菜 ，够 吃 了 。
Wǒmen mǎi le hěn duō cài, gòu chī le.
We bought a lot of food. It's enough for us to eat.
这些 纸 够 用 吗 ？
Zhèxiē zhǐ gòu yòng ma?
Is this paper enough for us to use?
放心 吧 ，我 带 的 钱 够 花 。
Fàngxīn ba, wǒ dài de qián gòu huā.
Don't worry. I've brought enough money to spend.
When it comes before an adjective, 了 is needed at the end of the sentence.
我 对 你 够 好 了 。
Wǒ duì nǐ gòu hǎo le.
I've been good enough to you.
别 抱怨 了 ，你 够 幸运 了 。
Bié bàoyuàn le, nǐ gòu xìngyùn le.
Stop complaining. You've been lucky enough.
Negative Form
In the negative form, you're not going to need a 了 (le).
Structure
Subj. + 不 + 够 + Adj. / Verb
Note that 了 can't be used when it's negated.
Examples
他 觉得 他 女朋友 不 够 漂亮 。
Tā juéde tā nǚpéngyou bù gòu piàoliang.
He thinks his girlfriend is not pretty enough.
你 说 得 不 够 清楚 。
Nǐ shuō de bù gòu qīngchǔ.
You didn't speak clearly enough.
这些 菜 不 够 吃 ，再 点 几 个 菜 。
Zhèxiē cài bù gòu chī, zài diǎn jǐ gè cài.
This food is not enough for us to eat. Let's order a few more dishes.
这里 太 小 了 ，不 够 坐 。
Zhèlǐ tài xiǎo le, bù gòu zuò.
It's too cramped here. There's not enough room to sit.
你 的 包 太 小 了，这些 东西 肯定 不 够 放 。
Nǐ de bāo tài xiǎo le, zhème dōngxi kěndìng bù gòu fàng.
Your bag is too small. There's definitely not enough room to hold this stuff.
Translations feel looser here, as the Chinese frequently omits the details about what's not enough for what. The verb and the context makes it clear enough.
Colloquial Saying
Literally, 够了 means "it's enough." When the speaker is getting sick of doing something or feeling fed up, 够了 can be applied after a limited number of verbs.
A few common examples:
我 受 够 了 ！
Wǒ shòu gòu le!
I've had enough of it!
天天 吃 外卖 ，我们 都 吃 够 了 。
Tiāntiān chī wàimài, wǒmen dōu chī gòu le.
We eat take-out every day. We're sick of eating it.
你 玩 够 了 没有 ？
Nǐ wán gòu le méiyǒu?
Are you done playing?
See also
The "zui" superlative
Expressing "excessively" with "tai"
Sources and further reading
Books