够

夠
gòu
句 + 多
HSK 2.0Level 4
HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

gòu (adjective) enough; sufficient
gòu (adverb) (before adj.) really; very
gòu (verb) to reach by stretching

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 多 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound.

Semantic: 多 Phonetic: 句

About

够 is a phonosemantic compound: 多 (many) expresses the meaning, while 句 provides the sound. Historically, it was often written in reverse as 夠, but the modern standard places the phonetic 句 on the left and the semantic 多 on the right. This combination suggests abundance, giving the character its sense of "enough" or "sufficient", used as an adjective or adverb.

Example Sentences Hide

这些钱够用了。

Zhèxiē qián gòu yòng le.

This money is enough to use.

我的时间不够用。

Wǒ de shíjiān bù gòu yòng.

My time is not enough to use.

我够不到书架。

Wǒ gòu bù dào shūjià.

I can't reach the bookshelf.

这些食物够我们吃吗？

Zhèxiē shíwù gòu wǒmen chī ma?

Is this food enough for us to eat?

因为下雨，我们玩得不够开心。

Yīnwèi xià yǔ, wǒmen wán de bù gòu kāixīn.

Because it rained, we didn't have enough fun.

你够年龄参加这个活动吗？

Nǐ gòu niánlíng cānjiā zhège huódòng ma?

Are you old enough to participate in this activity?

虽然努力了，但我觉得还不够。

Suīrán nǔlì le, dàn wǒ juédé hái bù gòu.

Although I worked hard, I think it's still not enough.

要够了解一个人，需要很长时间。

Yào gòu liǎojiě yī gè rén, xūyào hěn cháng shíjiān.

To understand a person enough, it takes a long time.

Related Characters

Component: 句

狗 拘 苟 驹 枸 佝 劬 笱 朐 岣 鮈 鸲 鼩 鉤

Component: 多

移 爹 侈 哆 夥 黟 迻 眵 夠 奓 栘 袲 誃

Example Words

能够 足够 不够 受够 够味 够呛 够意思 够戗 够朋友 够本 够格 够用 有够