Expressing "enough" with "gou"
Contents
Affirmative Form
In Chinese the word for "enough" comes before a verb more often than after an adjective.
Structure
Subj. + 够 + Predicate (+ 了)
Sometimes you'll see a 了 added after the verb for emphasis (as in "no, really, it's enough!").
Examples
- 他 对 你 够 好 了 。He's been good enough to you.
- 别 抱怨 了 ,你 已经 够 幸运 了 。Stop complaining. You've been lucky enough.
- 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 纸 够 用 吗 ?Are these paper good enough to use?
- 放心 吧 ,我 带 的 钱 够 花 。Don't worry. I've brought enough money to spend.
Negative Form
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. 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 。The paper in the office is not enough to use. You should go buy some tomorrow.
- 这些 菜 不够 吃 ,再 点 几 个 菜 。These food are not enough to eat. We need to order a few more dishes.
Colloquial Saying 够了
Literally 够了 means "it's enough." the speaker is "getting sick of [doing] something" or "done with [doing] something."
A few common 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?