sufficient

/səˈfɪʃnt/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈfɪʃnt/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈfi-shənt/ (ame, mw)

sufficient — adjective

  • sufficientpositive
  • more sufficientcomparative
  • most sufficientsuperlative

1. Present in a quantity or degree that meets what a situation, task, or requiremen

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Present in a quantity or degree that meets what a situation, task, or requirement demands.

例句

The scholarship provided sufficient funds to cover Mira's tuition and books.

collocation: sufficient funds

One week was not sufficient for Theo to finish editing the documentary.

pattern: sufficient for + noun + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • enough

    Less formal and more common in everyday speech; 'sufficient' is preferred in official or academic writing.

  • adequate

    Suggests the amount is just barely satisfactory, whereas 'sufficient' is neutral about whether the amount leaves a margin.

  • ample

    Means more than enough, with room to spare; 'sufficient' does not imply abundance.

反義詞
  • insufficient

    Direct opposite; means not enough for the purpose.

  • inadequate

    Emphasises that something falls short of a required standard or quality.

文法句型

sufficient + noun

be + sufficient + for + noun/pronoun

be + sufficient + to + verb

be + sufficient + for + noun/pronoun + to + verb

常見錯誤

❌Do you have sufficient of water?
✅Do you have sufficient water?
💡Unlike 'enough,' 'sufficient' is used directly before a noun without 'of.'
❌The food was sufficient enough for everyone.
✅The food was sufficient for everyone.
💡'Sufficient' already means 'enough'; adding 'enough' is redundant.
❌This is a sufficient big house.
✅This is a sufficiently big house.
💡Before an adjective, use the adverb 'sufficiently,' not the adjective 'sufficient.'

2. Relating to having eaten as much food as one wants, so that no more is desired.

2.形容詞B2
釋義

Relating to having eaten as much food as one wants, so that no more is desired.

例句

No more noodles for me, thanks — I have had sufficient.

informal: 'have had sufficient' after a meal

After two bowls of soup, Esteban announced that he had had sufficient.

同義詞
  • full

    More common in casual conversation; 'sufficient' is slightly more polite when declining food.

  • satisfied

    Focuses on the feeling of contentment after eating, whereas 'sufficient' focuses on the quantity eaten.

反義詞
  • hungry

    Opposite state; still wanting or needing food.

  • still hungry

    Phrase used when more food is desired after a meal.

文法句型

have had sufficient

be + sufficient (after eating)

用法筆記

This sense is used informally after a meal to indicate that one has eaten enough. It almost always appears in the phrase 'have had sufficient' and cannot be used before a noun (e.g., ❌ 'a sufficient dinner'). Unlike sense 1 (ENOUGH FOR A PURPOSE), this meaning only applies to food consumption.

常見錯誤

❌I am sufficient.
✅I have had sufficient.
💡For the 'ate enough' meaning, the correct structure is 'have had sufficient,' not 'be sufficient.'
❌I ate a sufficient dinner.
✅I have had sufficient (to eat).
💡This sense cannot be placed before a noun; it only works in the predicate pattern 'have had sufficient.'