Expressing "enough" with "gou"
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Contents
Good enough 够
In Chinese the word for "enough" often comes before a verb, rather than after an adjective.
Structure
Subj. + 够 + Verb (+ 了)
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。We bought a lot of food. It must be good enough to eat.
- 他 带 了 好 多 衣服 ，应该 够 换。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。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。This food is enough to eat. Don't buy more.
- 我 带 的 钱 够 用 了 ，你 不用 带 了。I've brought enough money to spend. You don't need to bring any.
不够
Structure
Subj. + 不够 + Verb
Examples
- 你 家 太 小 了，恐怕 不够 住 。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 。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 。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 ？I don't have enough money to spend this month. Could you lend me five hundred kuai?
Colloquial Saying 够了
够了 means the speaker is "getting sick of [doing] something" or "done with [doing] something."
Structure
Subj. + Verb + 够 + 了
Examples
- 别 说 了！ 这些 话 我 已经 听 够 了！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？！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！I had enough of him. I'm definitely going to divorce him.
- 你 天天 都 叫 外卖，还没 吃 够 吗？You order takeout every day. Haven't you gotten sick of eating it?
