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不足以 (bù zú yǐ) — not enough to; insufficient to (do something)

Definition

不足以 is a written/formal fixed phrase meaning 'insufficient to' — it modifies a verb to say the preceding condition falls short. More literary than the colloquial 不够 (which usually takes a noun).

verb
not enough toinsufficient to (do something)

Examples

  • 不足以。
    Zhè xiē zhèng jù bù zú yǐ zhèng míng tā yǒu zuì.
    This evidence is not enough to prove his guilt.
  • 不足以。
    Tā de néng lì bù zú yǐ shèng rèn zhè ge zhí wèi.
    His ability is insufficient to qualify for this position.
  • 不足以。
    Mù qián de tiáo jiàn bù zú yǐ zhī chí dà guī mó shēng chǎn.
    Current conditions are not enough to support large-scale production.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

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A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

足 was originally drawn as a leg.

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A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

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