TongTong
Sign in

够用 (gòu yòng) — to be enough for use, to be sufficient for one's needs

Definition

够 (gòu) means 'enough', and 够用 together means something is sufficient for its purpose — your time, money, or tools are adequate. Often negated as 不够用 when something falls short.

verb
to be enough for useto be sufficient for one's needs

Examples

  • 够用，。
    Zhè xiē qián hěn gòu yòng, nǐ bú yòng zài dài le.
    This money is enough for use; you don't need to bring more.
  • 。
    Wǒ jué de zhè ge fáng jiān de kōng jiān bú gòu yòng le.
    I think the space in this room is no longer sufficient.
  • 够用，。
    Zhè xiē cái liào yǐ jīng gòu yòng le, bú yòng zài mǎi le.
    These materials are already enough; no need to buy more.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

够gòuenough
用yònguse

够 expresses sufficiency and 用 expresses use, together meaning having enough for use.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 夠; 够 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
多多duō
Sound part声符shēngfú
句
句jù夠gòu
Same sound today

In the traditional form 夠, 多 is the part tied to the meaning and 句 is the part that gives the sound; the simplified 够 is a later shorthand.

Open 够 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →
Appears in
Quantity & Amount

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.