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不够 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
不够búgòunot enoughHSK 4, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #1321, Medium
不够búgòuinsufficientHSK 4, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #1321, Medium
不够búgòuinadequateHSK 4, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #1321, Medium
búgòu(bu2gou4) T4
  1. 1not enough
  2. 2insufficient
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March 24, 2026

不够(不夠)búgòu(bu2gou4)

不够 (bù gòu) means 'not enough' or 'insufficient.' It is commonly used to express that something falls short of a required quantity, quality, or standard. This phrase can be applied in various contexts, such as resources, time, or skills.

Strokes15Frequency#1321DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of sufficiency can be tied to the value of harmony and balance. For example, in discussions about business or family, feeling that resources are 不够 can lead to stress or conflict, emphasizing the importance of being adequately prepared.

Memory Tip

Think of 不 (bù) as a 'stop sign' indicating 'not' and 够 (gòu) as a 'full cup.' Together, 不够 (bù gòu) suggests a cup that is not full enough. Imagine a cup that needs more water; this visual can help you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 不够

búgòu(bu2gou4)
1not enough
2insufficient
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About 不够

不够Simplified
不夠Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
副动词dòngcíverb-adverb (v.-adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 不够

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Podcast: 不够

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AI Study Notes for 不够

Quick Contrast

不足 (bù zú) - use 不够 (bú gòu) when emphasizing a lack of quantity or sufficiency; 不足 (bù zú) can imply a more general deficiency or inadequacy.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 不够 with 够 (gòu), which means 'enough.' Remember to use 不够 when you want to express insufficiency. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure that the tone is appropriate for the situation.

HSK Study Tips

不够 is relevant for HSK Level 3 as it helps students express limitations. Focus on using it in sentences that describe what is lacking or insufficient, linking it to other vocabulary around needs or quantities like 需要 (xū yào) meaning 'to need.'

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget to use the negative 不 (bù) and mistakenly say '够' alone when they mean insufficient. For example, saying '我够' instead of '我不够' when referring to time or resources is incorrect. Always use 不够 to convey the meaning of insufficiency.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 不够

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Component Characters

不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
够gòuto reach
HSK 411 strokes夕
View full entry

How to say not enough in Chinese

“not enough” in Chinese is不够búgòu

不够 (bù gòu) means 'not enough' or 'insufficient.' It is commonly used to express that something falls short of a required quantity, quality, or standard. This phrase can be applied in various contexts, such as resources, time, or skills.

When to use 不够

Learners often confuse 不够 with 够 (gòu), which means 'enough.' Remember to use 不够 when you want to express insufficiency. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure that the tone is appropriate for the situation.

不够 or something close to it

不足 (bù zú) - use 不够 (bú gòu) when emphasizing a lack of quantity or sufficiency; 不足 (bù zú) can imply a more general deficiency or inadequacy.

What learners get wrong

Learners often forget to use the negative 不 (bù) and mistakenly say '够' alone when they mean insufficient. For example, saying '我够' instead of '我不够' when referring to time or resources is incorrect. Always use 不够 to convey the meaning of insufficiency.

Write 不够

不
够

Practice writing 不够 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 不够

You can say '时间不够' (shí jiān bù gòu) to mean 'there is not enough time.'

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