How to use 够
Subj. + 够 + Predicate (+ 了)
够 expresses sufficiency relative to a need or standard. Before a verb, it can say that an amount is enough for carrying out that activity. Before an adjective, it indicates that the quality reaches the required degree. The standard may be understood from the task or stated elsewhere in the conversation.
不够 negates sufficiency, so it means the amount or degree falls short rather than that the quality is wholly absent. Some verbs also take 够 after them to describe reaching enough of an activity or becoming fed up with it. Those postverbal combinations are limited by usage. Final 了 can mark or emphasize the reached threshold, but its presence depends on the construction and context.
Examples with pinyin and English
我们买了很多菜， 够吃了。
We bought a lot of food. It's enough for us to eat.
这些纸够用吗？
Is this paper enough for us to use?
放心吧，我带的钱够花。
Don't worry. I've brought enough money to spend.
我对你够好了。
I've been good enough to you.
What to remember
- Identify the required amount or standard.
- Use 不够 for falling short of it.
- Learn postverbal combinations as specific patterns.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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