gòu le: 够了 - Enough, That's enough!

• Keywords: gòu le, 够了, Chinese for enough, that's enough in Chinese, how to say stop in Chinese, gouliao, Chinese expression of frustration, Chinese verb for sufficient.
• Summary: “够了” (gòu le) is a fundamental Chinese phrase meaning “enough” or “that's enough!”. This versatile expression can be used literally to state that a quantity is sufficient, but it's more powerfully used to express frustration, annoyance, or a desire for someone to stop their actions. Understanding “够了” is key to navigating both simple transactions and emotionally charged conversations in Mandarin Chinese, revealing cultural nuances about directness and expressing boundaries.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gòu le
• Part of Speech: Verb phrase / Interjection
• HSK Level: HSK 3 (for the character 够)
• Concise Definition: A phrase indicating that something is sufficient, or a command for an action to cease.
• In a Nutshell: “够了” is the go-to phrase for “enough.” It has two main flavors: a neutral one (“That's a sufficient amount”) and an emotional one (“Stop it! I've had enough!”). The context and your tone of voice are crucial for telling them apart. Think of it as the difference between a waiter stopping pouring water into your glass and you telling someone to stop complaining.

• 够 (gòu): This character means “to be enough,” “sufficient,” or “adequate.” It is composed of 多 (duō), meaning “many” or “much,” and a phonetic component 句 (jù). You can think of it as having “many” of something, reaching the point where it is sufficient.
• 了 (le): A crucial grammatical particle in Chinese that often indicates a completed action or a change of state. Here, it signifies that the state of “being enough” has been reached. It adds a sense of finality, turning “enough” into “it is now enough.”

When combined, 够了 (gòu le) literally means “it has become sufficient,” which is used to mean “that's enough.”

While Chinese culture often values indirectness and maintaining social harmony (和气 - héqi), the phrase “够了!” is a powerful tool for setting direct boundaries. It's a verbal line in the sand. When used in a frustrated or angry tone, it signals that someone's patience has completely run out. It's a shift from polite endurance to direct confrontation. For a culture that can be less confrontational than many Western cultures, deploying a sharp “够了!” can feel more dramatic and final. It implies that the other person has gone beyond the acceptable limit or “degree” (度 - dù) of behavior. This contrasts with the English “That's enough,” which, while having the same range of meanings, might be used more casually in a confrontational setting. In Chinese, an emotional “够了!” is a clear sign that the situation has become serious and a respectful relationship is at risk if the behavior continues.

The meaning of “够了” is almost entirely dependent on tone and context.

• Neutral - Stating Sufficiency: In a calm, polite tone, it's used in daily transactions.
  • At a restaurant when being served water or rice: “够了，谢谢。” (Gòu le, xièxie.) - “That's enough, thank you.”
  • When buying things by weight: “半公斤就够了。” (Bàn gōngjīn jiù gòu le.) - “Half a kilogram is enough.”
• Negative - Expressing Frustration or Annoyance: With a sharp, loud, or exasperated tone, it's a command to stop.
  • To end an argument: “别吵了，我听够了！” (Bié chǎo le, wǒ tīng gòu le!) - “Stop arguing, I've heard enough!”
  • To a nagging person: “你够了啊！别再说了！” (Nǐ gòu le a! Bié zài shuō le!) - “That's enough from you! Don't say any more!”
• Positive - Expressing Satiation: In a relaxed and content tone, often after a meal.
  • After dinner: “我吃饱了，真的够了。” (Wǒ chī bǎo le, zhēn de gòu le.) - “I'm full, that's really enough (food).”

• Example 1:
  • 服务员，加水加到这里就够了，谢谢。
  • Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, jiā shuǐ jiā dào zhèlǐ jiù gòu le, xièxie.
  • English: Waiter, adding water up to here is enough, thank you.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of the polite, neutral usage. The “就” (jiù) emphasizes that this specific point is the limit.
• Example 2:
  • 别再抱怨了，够了！
  • Pinyin: Bié zài bàoyuàn le, gòu le!
  • English: Stop complaining, that's enough!
  • Analysis: This is the classic frustrated usage. The tone would be sharp and exasperated. It's a direct command to cease the action of complaining.
• Example 3:
  • A: 你还要米饭吗？ B: 不用了，这些够了。
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ hái yào mǐfàn ma? B: Búyòng le, zhèxiē gòu le.
  • English: A: Do you want more rice? B: No thanks, this is enough.
  • Analysis: A common, neutral exchange at the dinner table. “这些” (zhèxiē - this amount) clarifies what is sufficient.
• Example 4:
  • 我真是受够了你每天迟到！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhēnshi shòu gòu le nǐ měitiān chídào!
  • English: I've really had enough of you being late every day!
  • Analysis: This uses the stronger form “受够了” (shòu gòu le - to endure enough), which means “I can't stand it anymore.” It expresses a deep, personal frustration built up over time.
• Example 5:
  • 今天的作业太多了，三个小时都不够。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de zuòyè tài duō le, sān ge xiǎoshí dōu bù gòu.
  • English: There's too much homework today; even three hours isn't enough.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative form “不够” (bù gòu - not enough). Notice the absence of “了” (le) because the state of “enough” has not been reached.
• Example 6:
  • 好了好了，别再倒了，酒够了！
  • Pinyin: Hǎo le hǎo le, bié zài dào le, jiǔ gòu le!
  • English: Okay, okay, stop pouring, that's enough wine!
  • Analysis: This could be friendly or slightly frantic, depending on how fast the person is pouring. It’s a common phrase at social gatherings.
• Example 7:
  • 别买了，钱不够了。
  • Pinyin: Bié mǎi le, qián bù gòu le.
  • English: Stop buying things, we don't have enough money anymore.
  • Analysis: Here, “不够了” (bù gòu le) indicates a change of state. We used to have enough money, but now we don't. The “了” is key to showing this change.
• Example 8:
  • 演戏演够了没有？
  • Pinyin: Yǎnxì yǎn gòu le méiyǒu?
  • English: Are you done with your little performance? (Literally: Have you acted enough?)
  • Analysis: A sarcastic and confrontational way to tell someone to stop being dramatic or insincere.
• Example 9:
  • A: 这些菜够了吗？ B: 应该够了，我们只有三个人。
  • Pinyin: A: Zhèxiē cài gòu le ma? B: Yīnggāi gòu le, wǒmen zhǐyǒu sān ge rén.
  • English: A: Is this enough food? B: It should be enough, there are only three of us.
  • Analysis: A very practical use of “够了” in a question-and-answer format to gauge quantity.
• Example 10:
  • 你这个玩笑开得太过了，够了！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhège wánxiào kāi de tài guò le, gòu le!
  • English: You took that joke too far, that's enough!
  • Analysis: Here, “够了” is used to stop an action that has crossed a social boundary (going “too far” - 太过分了 tài guòfèn le). It’s a way of saying “the fun is over.”

• Tone is Everything: This is the most critical point. A beginner who says “够了!” (Gòu le!) with a sharp tone to a waiter pouring tea will come across as incredibly rude. In polite situations, use a gentle, downward inflection and add “谢谢” (xièxie).
• 够 (gòu) vs. 够了 (gòu le): Learners often confuse the two.
  • 够 (gòu) is a state: “sufficient.” It's used to describe a general condition. Example: 我的中文还不够好。(Wǒ de Zhōngwén hái bù gòu hǎo.) - My Chinese is still not good enough.
  • 够了 (gòu le) is about reaching a limit or a change of state: “it is now sufficient” or “that's enough!”. It's a reaction to an ongoing action. Example: 别说了，够了。 (Bié shuō le, gòu le.) - Stop talking, that's enough.
• Not a Universal “Enough”: You cannot use “够了” for every English instance of “enough.” For example, to say “He is smart enough,” you would use a different structure like “他足够聪明” (tā zúgòu cōngmíng), not “他聪明够了” (which would sound like “he's had enough of being smart”).

• * 受够了 (shòu gòu le) - A stronger, more personal version: “I've had enough of it / I can't stand it anymore.” It implies personal suffering or endurance.
• * 足够 (zúgòu) - A more formal or emphatic synonym for “sufficient, enough,” often used in writing.
• * 行了 (xíng le) - “Alright, that'll do, okay.” A close synonym in the context of “that's enough,” but often a bit softer and more like “okay, that's fine, you can stop now.”
• * 算了 (suàn le) - “Forget it, never mind.” Used to end a discussion or drop a topic, similar to how “够了” can end an argument, but with a sense of giving up rather than anger.
• * 别再 (bié zài) - “Don't… anymore.” This phrase often precedes an emotional “够了” to strengthen the command (e.g., 别再说了，够了！ - Bié zài shuō le, gòu le!).
• * 差不多 (chàbuduō) - “Almost, more or less, close enough.” This is used when a quantity is sufficient for the purpose, but perhaps not exact. It carries a sense of “good enough.”