The Word “Enough”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
The word “enough” is fundamental yet versatile in English. It is used to express sufficiency, adequacy, or the idea that something meets a required amount or standard. This article dives into its meaning, diverse usage contexts, and translations in 30 languages, showcasing its universality across cultures.
Meaning of “Enough”
- Primary Definition:
- As an adjective or pronoun, “enough” means having or being as much as required or sufficient.
- Example: “We have enough food for everyone.”
- As an adjective or pronoun, “enough” means having or being as much as required or sufficient.
- Adverbial Use:
- As an adverb, it modifies adjectives or verbs to indicate an adequate degree.
- Example: “She didn’t work hard enough to succeed.”
- As an adverb, it modifies adjectives or verbs to indicate an adequate degree.
- Idiomatic and Colloquial Uses:
- Used to emphasize frustration or exasperation:
- Example: “Enough! Stop arguing.”
- Used to emphasize frustration or exasperation:
Common Usages in Context
- Describing Quantity:
- “Is there enough water for the hike?”
- Setting Limits:
- “You’ve done enough; take a break.”
- Expressing Frustration:
- “I’ve had enough of these interruptions!”
- Asking Questions About Sufficiency:
- “Is this bag big enough for all our supplies?”
Translations of “Enough” in 30 Languages
Language | Translation | Example |
---|---|---|
Spanish | Suficiente | “¿Hay suficiente comida para todos?” |
French | Assez | “Avez-vous assez de temps pour terminer?” |
German | Genug | “Hast du genug Schlaf bekommen?” |
Italian | Abbastanza | “Hai abbastanza spazio per questo?” |
Portuguese | Suficiente | “Temos água suficiente para a viagem?” |
Dutch | Genoeg | “Heb je genoeg geld voor het ticket?” |
Russian | Достаточно (Dostatochno) | “У нас достаточно еды?” |
Chinese (Simplified) | 足够 (Zúgòu) | “我们有足够的资源吗?” |
Japanese | 十分 (Jūbun) | “彼には十分な経験がありますか?” |
Korean | 충분히 (Chungbunhi) | “이것이 충분히 큽니까?” |
Hindi | पर्याप्त (Paryāpt) | “क्या हमारे पास पर्याप्त समय है?” |
Bengali | যথেষ্ট (Jothesto) | “আমাদের কি যথেষ্ট অর্থ আছে?” |
Turkish | Yeterli | “Bu bilgi yeterli mi?” |
Greek | Αρκετά (Arketá) | “Έχεις αρκετά χρήματα;” |
Hebrew | מספיק (Maspiq) | “האם יש מספיק מים?” |
Swedish | Tillräckligt | “Har vi tillräckligt med tid?” |
Norwegian | Nok | “Er dette nok for prosjektet?” |
Danish | Nok | “Har du nok penge til at betale?” |
Finnish | Tarpeeksi | “Onko tämä tarpeeksi suuri?” |
Polish | Wystarczająco | “Czy mamy wystarczająco jedzenia?” |
Czech | Dost | “Máme dost peněz na výlet?” |
Hungarian | Elég | “Ez elég lesz a munkához?” |
Romanian | Suficient | “Avem suficient timp pentru proiect?” |
Thai | พอ (Pho) | “เรามีน้ำพอสำหรับการเดินทางไหม?” |
Vietnamese | Đủ | “Chúng ta có đủ tiền không?” |
Indonesian | Cukup | “Apakah ini cukup besar untuk kita?” |
Malay | Cukup | “Adakah makanan cukup untuk semua?” |
Swahili | Vya kutosha | “Je, tuna chakula vya kutosha?” |
Filipino | Sapat | “May sapat ba tayong pagkain?” |
Arabic | كافٍ (Kāfin) | “هل لدينا وقت كافٍ لهذا؟” |
Estonian | Piisavalt | “Kas meil on piisavalt toitu?” |
Additional Examples in Selected Languages
- French:
- “As-tu assez d’argent pour acheter ce livre?”
- “Il est assez vieux pour conduire une voiture.”
- German:
- “Haben wir genug Zeit, um alles vorzubereiten?”
- “Es ist genug, du musst nicht mehr machen.”
- Spanish:
- “No tengo suficiente espacio en mi mochila.”
- “Ella no está lo suficientemente preparada para la prueba.”
- Chinese (Simplified):
- “我们是否有足够的资金支持这个项目?”
- “你的理由还不够有说服力。”
- Arabic:
- “لدينا طعام كافٍ للرحلة.”
- “لم يكن هذا التفسير كافياً.”
The word “enough” encapsulates the idea of balance and fulfillment. Whether describing tangible quantities, abstract ideas, or emotional states, its ubiquity across languages highlights a shared human understanding of adequacy and satisfaction.
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