Expressing "enough" with "gou"

Positive meaning with 够

“了”是语气词。一般来说，如果只是陈述一个事实，不用加“了”；如果是在一种语境下，表示“真的够了, 不用担心"，加“了”起强调作用。

Structure

Subj. + 够 + Verb

Subj. + 够 + Verb + 了

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。Zhè xiē cài gòu chī le, bù yào zài mǎi le. These 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.

Negative meaning with 不够

Structure

Subj. + 不够 + Verb

Subj. + 不够 + Verb + 了

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. These 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 to buy some tomorrow.
• 我 的 钱 不够 花 了，你 能 不 能 再 给 我 五 百？Wǒ de qián bùgòu huā le, nǐ néng bu néng zài gěi wǒ wǔ bǎi? I don't have enough money to spend. Can you give me another five hundred kuai?