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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "enough" or "to reach" with 够 (gòu)

    Degree & Intensity
    Numbers & Quantity

    Structure

    Subject + 够 (+ 不到) + Object

    Explanation

    够 (gòu) means "enough" or "to reach." It can indicate sufficiency (as in "enough money") or the physical ability to reach something. When combined with 不到, it means "unable to reach."

    Examples

    • 我的钱不够，还差五十块。

      wǒ de qián bú gòu, hái chà wǔshí kuài.

      I don't have enough money — I'm still fifty yuan short.

    • 柜子太高了，我够不到上面的东西。

      guìzi tài gāo le, wǒ gòu bú dào shàngmiàn de dōngxi.

      The cabinet is too tall; I can't reach the things on top.

    • 时间够不够？我们还需要十分钟。

      shíjiān gòu bú gòu? wǒmen hái xūyào shí fēnzhōng.

      Is there enough time? We still need ten more minutes.

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    Expressing "enough" or "to reach" with 够 (gòu) | Chinese Grammar