Definition
够 (gòu) has two main uses: as a verb meaning 'to be enough' or 'to reach (by stretching)', and as an adverb meaning 'enough' before adjectives. For 'enough', 足够 (zú gòu) is a stronger, more formal alternative meaning 'fully sufficient'. For 'reach', 到 (dào) means to arrive at a place or time, while 够 focuses on physically extending to touch something.
adverb
enoughsufficiently (before adjectives; also colloquially 'really')
verb
to be enoughto sufficeto reach (by stretching)
Easily confused
- 移yílook-aliketo move, to shift
- 狗gǒusound-alikedog
- 勾gōusound-alike(verb) to tick; to check off
- 钩gōusound-alike(noun) hook; catch; clasp
- 沟gōusound-alikeditch, gutter (man-made drainage channel)
Examples
- 够？Zhèlǐ de qián gòu ma?Is there enough money here?
- 够。Zhèxiē shíwù gòu wǒmen chī sān tiān.These food supplies are enough for us to eat for three days.
- 够。Wǒ gòu bú dào shūjià shàng de nà běn shū.I can't reach that book on the shelf.
Grammar
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