gau3夠够

Jyutpinggau3

Yalegau

動詞Very common

Definition

Enough, sufficient; to reach the required or qualifying amount or degree.

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

Functions as both a verb meaning to suffice and an adverb meaning sufficiently. When used as a verb, it often takes a noun object directly, such as 夠錢 or 夠時間. It is frequently paired with 唔 to form the negative 唔夠, which is the standard way to express insufficiency in almost any context.

Examples

nei5你gau3夠m4唔gau3夠cin2錢daap3搭ce1車faan1返uk1屋kei2企aa4呀？

Do you have enough money to take the transport home?

le1呢fan2份faan6飯fan6份loeng6量hou2好gau3夠，ngo5我sik6食m4唔saai3晒。

This portion of rice is very sufficient, I cannot finish it all.

Common phrases

gau3夠zung1鐘

time is up

gau3夠goeng1薑

to have the guts

gau3夠saai3晒

more than enough

Common mistake

Avoid using 夠 to mean very or extremely in the same way as 好, even though it can sometimes be used in negative structures like 唔夠好 to mean not good enough. It is strictly about meeting a threshold or requirement rather than acting as a general intensifier.