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HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 5 min read

够...的 for “Really Quite …”

Wrap an adjective in 够……的 to say something is really quite cold, tiring or difficult, with feeling.

Pattern

够 + adjective + 的 (+ 了)

够……的 says a quality has reached a high degree, and it carries the speaker’s feeling: “it’s really quite …!”

今天够冷的，多穿点儿衣服吧。

When to use 够...的 for “Really Quite …”

Put an adjective between 够 and 的: 够冷的, 够难的, 够累的. The sentence says the quality is strong, often stronger than expected, and the speaker feels something about it: surprise, sympathy or mild complaint.

这次考试够难的，很多人都没做完。

This exam was pretty tough. Lots of people didn’t finish.

这家饭馆的菜够辣的，我吃不了。

The food at this restaurant is really spicy. I can’t handle it.

他每天五点就起床，真够早的！

He gets up at five every day. That’s really early!

你也够认真的，一个字写了三遍。

You’re really careful, writing one character three times.

Common traps

  • Keep the closing 的; it is part of the pattern: 今天够冷的.
  • Don’t negate 够……的; for “not … enough,” use 不够 + adjective.
  • It sounds spoken and emotional; in neutral writing, use 很 or 非常.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

这家饭馆的菜 辣的，我吃不了

The food at this restaurant is really spicy. I can’t handle it
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