不够 búgòu not enough
not enough; insufficient; inadequate
How to remember 不够: 不 not + 够 enough = not enough.
Characters
How it is used
- 不够 (búgòu) means 'not enough' and works both as a predicate after a noun (钱不够 qián búgòu - not enough money) and before an adjective as an intensifier-negator (他不够聪明 tā búgòu cōngmíng - he's not smart enough).
- As a verb-like complement it also attaches to verbs: 睡不够 (shuì búgòu) - not sleep enough.
- Contrast with 不足 (bùzú), a more formal/written synonym common in reports and statistics, while 不够 is the everyday spoken choice.
- Common pattern: [amount] + 不够 + [purpose], e.g. 时间不够用 (shíjiān búgòu yòng) - there isn't enough time.
Example sentences
- 不够吗？ Búgòu ma?Is that not enough?
- 你不够快。 Nǐ búgòu kuài.You're not fast enough.
- 有钱还不够。 Yǒuqián hái búgòu.Being rich isn't enough.