Definitions
(noun)
foot; leg
(adjective)
sufficient; enough; ample
Etymology
Pictograph of a foot (止) attached to a leg.
About
The character '足' originated as a pictograph representing the human foot and lower leg, with its early form visually depicting these anatomical features before gradually condensing into its present structure, which abstractly suggests a foot with an upper section akin to a knee or shin and a lower part denoting the foot itself. While its core meaning has always been associated with the physical foot, this character acquired additional layers of signification, expanding to convey ideas of sufficiency or completeness, a semantic shift possibly originating from the notion that having feet provides a foundation for stability and thus fulfills a basic condition. This extended usage is embedded in classical language where '足' appears in contexts ranging from the literal body part to abstract states of adequacy, and its consistent form has functioned as a radical categorizing other characters related to feet, walking, or movement.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这些食物足够我们吃。
他每天都踢足球。
她的回答让我很满足。
他对工作充满十足的热情。
我们的足球队赢得了比赛。
他想在这个城市立足。
这些证据不足以证明他有罪。
探险家的足迹遍布整个大陆。