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绰绰有余 (chuò chuò yǒu yú) — more than enough; ample; plenty to spare (of resources, ability, time, etc.)

Definition

A formal idiom meaning 'more than enough' — emphasizes that resources or ability comfortably exceed what's needed, leaving room to spare. Written register; for everyday speech, '足够了' is more natural.

idiom
more than enoughampleplenty to spare (of resources, ability, time, etc.)

Examples

  • 绰绰有余。
    Tā de jīng yàn yìng duì zhè ge xiàng mù chuò chuò yǒu yú.
    His experience is more than enough for this project.
  • 绰绰有余，。
    Zhè cì yù suàn liǎng wàn kuài chuò chuò yǒu yú, bú yòng zài shēn qǐng le.
    This budget of 20,000 yuan is ample; no need to apply for more.
  • ，绰绰有余。
    Yǐ tā de cái huá, shèng rèn zhè ge zhí wèi chuò chuò yǒu yú.
    With his talent, he is more than qualified for this position.

Origin

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 綽; 绰 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⽷⽷⽷
Sound part声符shēngfú
卓
卓zhuó綽chuò
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 綽 pairs ⽷ with 卓 as a sound part; the simplified 绰 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 绰 →

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 綽; 绰 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⽷⽷⽷
Sound part声符shēngfú
卓
卓zhuó綽chuò
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 綽 pairs ⽷ with 卓 as a sound part; the simplified 绰 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 绰 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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 餘; 余 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
食食shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú餘Yú
Same sound today

The traditional form 餘 pairs 食 (food) with 余 as its sound part; the simplified 余 is a later abbreviation.

Open 余 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesQuantity & Amount

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