“Enough” in Chinese – 夠 / 够 gòu

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 夠够 gòu is used to indicate “sufficiency”, “enough” or “adequacy”, and it can have different meanings and functions depending on the context.

Structure

(S) + O + 夠够 gòu + Verb
(S) + 夠够 gòu + Verb + O

夠够 gòu can be used in both positive and negative constructions to express enough or not enough. It can also be used to show that something meets the required amount, not just a quantity but also in terms of quality (like skills, effort, etc.).

你nǐ的de錢qián不夠búgòu買mǎi手機shǒujī你nǐ的de钱qián不够búgòu买mǎi手机shǒujī
Your money is not enough to buy a phone.

這zhè些xiē酒jiǔ根本gēnběn不夠búgòu喝hē， 還hái有yǒu沒有méiyǒu啊a？ 这zhè些xiē酒jiǔ根本gēnběn不够búgòu喝hē， 还hái有yǒu没有méiyǒu啊a？
This alcohol is totally not enough. Is there any more?

你nǐ確定quèdìng這zhè些xiē錢qián夠gòu用yòng嗎ma？你nǐ确定quèdìng这zhè些xiē钱qián够gòu用yòng吗ma？
Are you sure this money is enough?

台北táiběi物價wùjià這麼zhème貴guì， 薪水xīnshuǐ完全wánquán不夠bùgòu用yòng台北táiběi物价wùjià这么zhème贵guì， 薪水xīnshuǐ完全wánquán不够búgòu用yòng
The cost of living in Taipei is so high; my salary is completely insufficient.

(S) + 夠够 gòu + Adj

In this structure, 了 le can’t be used when it’s negated.

你nǐ的de中文zhōngwén已經yǐjīng夠gòu好hǎo了le， 不用bùyòng學xué了le你nǐ的de中文zhōngwén已经yǐjīng够gòu好hǎo了le， 不用bùyòng学xué了le
Your Chinese is already good enough; you don’t need to study anymore.

我wǒ想xiǎng當dāng模特兒mótèr， 你nǐ覺得juéde我wǒ夠gòu高gāo( 了le) 嗎ma？ 我wǒ想xiǎng当dāng模特儿mótèr， 你nǐ觉得juéde我wǒ够gòu高gāo( 了le)吗ma？
I want to be a model. Do you think I’m tall enough?

已經yǐjīng夠gòu漂亮piàoliàng了le， 根本gēnběn不bù需要xūyào化妝huàzhuāng已经yǐjīng够gòu漂亮piàoliang了le， 根本gēnběn不bù需要xūyào化妆huàzhuāng
You’re already pretty enough; there’s no need for makeup at all.

夠gòu多duō了le， 不要búyào再zài加jiā了le够gòu多duō了le， 不要búyào再zài加jiā了le
That’s enough; don’t add any more.

我wǒ不夠búgòu聰明cōngmíng， 所以suǒyǐ請qǐng你nǐ找zhǎo別人biérén買mǎi你nǐ的de產品chǎnpǐn我wǒ不够búgòu聪明cōngming， 所以suǒyǐ请qǐng你nǐ找zhǎo别人biérén买mǎi你nǐ的de产品chǎnpǐn
I’m not smart enough.

Common Usage

有夠够 yǒugòu

有夠够 yǒugòu is a colloquial and emphatic way of expressing that something is very, extremely, or super(often with a negative connotation or exaggeration). It’s commonly used in spoken Chinese to emphasize the intensity of an adjective.

今天jīntiān天氣tiānqì有夠yǒugòu熱rè今天jīntiān天气tiānqì有够yǒugòu热rè
The weather today is so hot!

昨天zuótiān的de交通jiāotōng有夠yǒugòu糟zāo， 我wǒ花huā了le三sān個ge小時xiǎoshí才cái到dào家jiā！ 昨天zuótiān的de交通jiāotōng有够yǒugòu糟zāo， 我wǒ花huā了le三sān个ge小时xiǎoshí才cái到dào家jiā！
The traffic yesterday was terrible—it took me three hours to get home!

這zhè家jiā店diàn的de服務fúwù態度tàidù有夠yǒugòu差chā这zhè家jiā店diàn的de服务fúwù态度tàidù有够yǒugòu差chà
The service at this shop is so bad!

夠够了 gòule

夠够了 gòule is versatile and often used to express sufficiency, reaching a limit, or even frustration depending on the context. It’s commonly heard in everyday conversations and often used to show that someone is fed up or can’t take something anymore.

我wǒ聽tīng夠了gòule這些zhèxiē無聊wúliáo的de借口jièkǒu！ 我wǒ听tīng够了gòule这些zhèxiē无聊wúliáo的de借口jièkǒu！
I’ve had enough of these lame excuses!

你nǐ動不動dòngbúdòng就jiù生氣shēngqì， 我wǒ真的zhēnde受shòu夠了gòule你nǐ动不动dòngbúdòng就jiù生气shēngqì， 我wǒ真的zhēnde受shòu够了gòule
You get angry so easily; I’ve really had enough!

你nǐ說shuō夠了gòule沒有méiyǒu你nǐ说shuō够了gòule没有méiyǒu
Have you said enough yet?

行xíng了le， 鬧nào夠了gòule！ 別bié再zài吵chǎo了le！ 行xíng了le， 闹nào够了gòule！ 别bié再zài吵chǎo了le！
Alright, that’s enough! Stop arguing!

• “Sufficiently” in Chinese – 夠够 gòu… 的 de (HSK 5)