足以……
Reach for this written-register phrase when you want to say something is ENOUGH on its own to produce a particular result or prove a particular point — 'sufficient to,' 'enough to.' 足以 sits between the evidence (or cause) and the verb naming what that evidence achieves. Common in news commentary, essays, and analytical writing: 'These figures are enough to show that…' Speech uses 足够…… or 完全可以…… instead.
Structure
[CAUSE / EVIDENCE] 足以 [VERB-PHRASE]。
zúyǐ...
How to Think About It
足 means 'enough,' 以 functions like 'to' / 'so as to' — together they introduce a verb describing what the prior thing is enough TO DO. Native readers expect the slot before 足以 to be substantial (a fact, a piece of evidence, a quantity) and the slot after to be the conclusion or capability it enables. The phrase has a 'this is decisive' tone — it is rarely used for trivial things.
Examples
这些数据足以证明问题的严重性。
Zhèxiē shùjù zúyǐ zhèngmíng wèntí de yánzhòngxìng.
These figures are enough to prove how serious the problem is.
他的经验足以应对这种局面。
Tā de jīngyàn zúyǐ yìngduì zhè zhǒng júmiàn.
His experience is sufficient to handle this kind of situation.
一句道歉不足以弥补损失。
Yī jù dàoqiàn bù zúyǐ míbǔ sǔnshī.
A single apology is not enough to make up for the loss.
Common Mistake
Learners pair 足以 with an object instead of a verb phrase (足以钱). 足以 must be followed by a verbal expression — what the evidence is enough to DO, not just an item it can buy or cover.
这些钱足以一台电脑。
这些钱足以买一台电脑。
Don't Confuse With
足够 + Verb
足够 is conversational ('enough to'). 足以 is the bookish equivalent — use it in writing and analysis.
可以...
可以 just states ability ('can'). 足以 says the cause is BIG ENOUGH on its own to make the result happen.
不足以...
Negative form: 'not enough to…' (这些证据不足以证明). Use it when you want to say evidence falls short of producing the conclusion.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 这次失败 ___ 以让他重新思考方向。
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足
Fill in the blank: 这些证据足 ___ 说明真相。
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以
Arrange into a sentence: 足以 / 这场雨 / 解决 / 旱情 / 不
Show answer
这场雨不足以解决旱情。
Translate to Chinese: His skills are enough to convince any client.
Show answer
他的能力足以说服任何客户。
Write a sentence where one piece of evidence is enough to support a claim, using 足以.
Show answer
这一组数据足以反映出消费者信心的变化。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 足以…… in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.