Usage of 足以
The phrase 足以 is used to express that something is sufficient or enough to achieve a certain result or meet a requirement. It often appears before a verb or verb phrase to indicate capability or adequacy.
Common contexts
It is frequently used in formal or written Chinese to emphasize that a condition or factor meets the necessary standard. For example, 足以 + verb phrase means "enough to..." or "sufficient to...".
Collocations and patterns
- 足以 + Verb: indicates sufficiency to perform an action.
- 足以 + 让/使 + Object + Verb: expresses that something is enough to cause or allow an action.
Nuances
Using 足以 implies a confident assertion about adequacy, often in contexts like evaluations, qualifications, or evidence. It is more formal than simply saying 足够 and is common in academic, professional, or official language.
Common confusion
Do not confuse 足以 with 足够. 足够 means "enough" in quantity or degree, while 足以 emphasizes sufficiency to achieve or cause something. For example, 足够的钱 means "enough money," but 钱足以买车 means "money is sufficient to buy a car."