Meanings of 不够
By ear
Play it, then pick what 不够 means.
About 不够
Podcast: 不够
Podcast: 不够
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 不够
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.
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 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.'
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.
Pronunciation of 不够
Drill the tone of 不够 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 不够 to You
Let me explain 不够 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 不够 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 不够?
Learning Lab
Knowing 不够 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Component Characters
How to say not enough in Chinese
“not enough” in Chinese is不够
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
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 不够 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 不够?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Frequently Asked Questions about 不够
You can say '时间不够' (shí jiān bù gòu) to mean 'there is not enough time.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 不够?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.