Chinese Character: 够
1. Character Basics
Radical: 夕/夕 (xī, evening, twilight, indicates related to time or completion)
Stroke Count: 11
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gòu (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Enough; sufficient; adequate; to be enough; to reach (a quantity or degree)
The character "够" primarily denotes the concept of sufficiency or adequacy, indicating that a quantity or degree meets the required standard. It can also express reaching a certain level or limit.
4. Common Words
- 足够 (zú gòu) - Sufficient; enough
Example: 我们有足够的食物。(Wǒ men yǒu zú gòu de shí wù.) - We have enough food. - 够了 (gòu le) - Enough; that's enough
Example: 别再说了，够了！(Bié zài shuō le, gòu le!) - Stop talking, that's enough! - 能够 (néng gòu) - Can; be able to
Example: 我能够帮助你。(Wǒ néng gòu bāng zhù nǐ.) - I can help you. - 够得着 (gòu de zháo) - To be able to reach
Example: 书架太高了，我够不着。(Shū jià tài gāo le, wǒ gòu bù zháo.) - The bookshelf is too high, I can't reach it. - 够朋友 (gòu péng you) - To be a true friend; to be friendly enough
Example: 他真够朋友，总是帮助我。(Tā zhēn gòu péng you, zǒng shì bāng zhù wǒ.) - He's a true friend, always helping me.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as an adjective or verb
Usage Patterns:
- As an adjective: Often placed before nouns to indicate sufficiency (足够的时间/足够的钱)
- As a verb: Often used to express capability or reachability (能够做某事/够得着)
- Can be used in both positive and negative forms (够/不够)
Common Collocations:
- 不够 (bù gòu) - Not enough; insufficient
- 够劲儿 (gòu jìn er) - Strong enough; powerful enough
- 够意思 (gòu yì si) - Generous; kind; thoughtful
- 够数量 (gòu shù liàng) - To be sufficient in quantity
- 够标准 (gòu biāo zhǔn) - To meet the standard
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the character "够" reflects the traditional value of moderation and balance. The concept of having "enough" (够) is often emphasized in philosophical teachings, particularly in Confucianism and Taoism, which advocate for contentment and avoiding excess.
"够" is also significant in daily communication, where knowing when something is "足够" (sufficient) versus "不够" (insufficient) helps maintain social harmony and clarity in interactions. It's often used to express satisfaction or the need for more in various contexts from material resources to emotional support.
Additionally, the character plays an important role in expressions of capability and potential, as seen in words like 能够 (néng gòu, can, be able to), which reflects the Chinese cultural emphasis on practical ability and achievement.
7. Example Sentence
1. 这些钱够不够买这本书？
(Zhè xiē qián gòu bù gòu mǎi zhè běn shū?)
Is this money enough to buy this book?
2. 他身高不够，不能参军。
(Tā shēn gāo bù gòu, bù néng cān jūn.)
He's not tall enough to join the army.
3. 谢谢你的帮助，这已经够了。
(Xiè xiè nǐ de bāng zhù, zhè yǐ jīng gòu le.)
Thank you for your help, this is enough.
8. Memory Tips
1. Component Breakdown:
The character "够" consists of two parts:
- Top: 多 (duō) - many, much
- Bottom: 句 (jù) - sentence, phrase
- Think of "when there's too much (多) to say in one sentence (句)", it's enough.
2. Visual Association:
Imagine a balance scale with "多" (much) on one side and "句" (sentence) on the other - when they are in balance, it's "够" (enough).
3. Memory Mnemonic:
"多 (much) + 句 (sentence) = 够 (enough)": When there's enough to say in a sentence, it's sufficient.
4. Related Words Practice:
Practice writing and using words containing "够" such as 足够 (zú gòu), 能够 (néng gòu), and 够了 (gòu le) to reinforce your memory of the character.