Meanings of 夠
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About 夠
Podcast: 夠
Podcast: 夠
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AI Study Notes for 夠
夠 (gòu) vs 足 (zú) — use 夠 for sufficiency in quantity or degree, while 足 emphasizes completeness or fullness.
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 夠, as it is pronounced in the fourth tone (falling). Common collocations include '夠了' (gòu le) meaning 'that's enough' and '夠好' (gòu hǎo) meaning 'good enough'. It is generally used in informal contexts, so be mindful when transitioning to more formal language.
While 夠 is not specifically listed in the HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for learners at the HSK 3 or 4 level due to its practical usage in everyday conversations. Students should focus on its application in expressing sufficiency and reaching goals, which are common themes in HSK dialogues.
Learners often confuse 夠 with 足夠 (zúgòu) and use them interchangeably in formal contexts. For example, saying '足夠了' may sound overly formal in casual conversation; instead, use '夠了' (gòu le).
Pronunciation of 夠
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Etymology of 夠
Phonosemantic compound. 多 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 夠
Phonosemantic compound. 多 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half句 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half多 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymore
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 夠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 夠
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How to say enough, adequate; to reach, to attain; to pass muster in Chinese
“enough, adequate; to reach, to attain; to pass muster” in Chinese is夠
The character 夠 (gòu) means 'enough' or 'adequate,' often used to indicate sufficiency in quantity or degree. It can also mean 'to reach' or 'to attain,' suggesting an achievement of a certain standard. This word is commonly used in everyday conversations to express whether something meets expectations or requirements.
When to use 夠
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 夠, as it is pronounced in the fourth tone (falling). Common collocations include '夠了' (gòu le) meaning 'that's enough' and '夠好' (gòu hǎo) meaning 'good enough'. It is generally used in informal contexts, so be mindful when transitioning to more formal language.
夠 or something close to it
夠 (gòu) vs 足 (zú) — use 夠 for sufficiency in quantity or degree, while 足 emphasizes completeness or fullness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 夠 with 足夠 (zúgòu) and use them interchangeably in formal contexts. For example, saying '足夠了' may sound overly formal in casual conversation; instead, use '夠了' (gòu le).
Write 夠
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Practice writing 夠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 夠
Compound Meaning
What does 能够 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 夠
You can say '這個就夠了' (zhège jiù gòu le), meaning 'This is enough.'
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