Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
enough
/iˈnʌf/
At its core, "enough" represents the concept of sufficiency—the point where a need is met and further addition becomes unnecessary or redundant. It is the threshold between deficiency and excess. Unlike "sufficient," which often feels clinical or formal, "enough" is versatile and used across all registers. It carries a neutral tone when describing quantity but can shift to a sharp, negative connotation when used as an exclamation (e.g., "Enough!") to signal impatience or the end of tolerance. In emotional contexts, it often implies a sense of satisfaction or contentment ("I have enough"), but in interpersonal conflicts, it signals a breaking point where a limit has been reached.
💬Trò chuyện
Are those reports ready? We barely have enough runway for this.
Chill, Jess. They're good enough. We can tweak it later.
Cụm từ kết hợp
just enough
only the amount that is needed, not more and not less
We have just enough food for everyone.
more than enough
an amount that is greater than what is needed
There was more than enough cake for all the guests.
good enough
satisfactory or acceptable
This solution is good enough for now.
hardly enough
barely sufficient; not nearly enough
There was hardly enough time to finish the project.
not nearly enough
far less than what is needed or expected
The funding provided was not nearly enough to cover the costs.
Thành ngữ & Tục ngữ
when you've had enough
when you have reached your limit of tolerance or endurance
You can leave the party when you've had enough.
enough is enough
used to say that one has reached the limit of one's patience or tolerance and will not accept any more
I've put up with this behavior for too long; enough is enough!
enough to go around
available in sufficient quantity for everyone
Don't worry, there's coffee enough to go around.
Từ nguyên
The word 'enough' comes from Old English 'genōg', meaning 'sufficient' or 'as much as is needed'. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as German 'genug' and Dutch 'genoeg'. The word has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning throughout the history of the English language.