Usage note
不足表示不够或有缺点。
bù zú biǎo shì bú gòu huò yǒu quē diǎn。
不足 means not enough or having shortcomings.
Context note
不足常用于数量、能力和问题。
bù zú cháng yòng yú shù liàng 、 néng lì hé wèn tí。
It is often used for quantity, ability, and problems.
5 examples
时间不足。
shí jiān bù zú。
There is not enough time.
经验不足。
jīng yàn bù zú。
There is insufficient experience.
这个地方光线不足。
zhè ge dì fāng guāng xiàn bù zú。
This place has insufficient light.
钱还不足。
qián hái bù zú。
The money is still not enough.
不足之处请指出。
bù zú zhī chù qǐng zhǐ chū。
Please point out the shortcomings.
5 mini stories
他因为经验不足而紧张。
tā yīn wèi jīng yàn bù zú ér jǐn zhāng。
He was nervous because he lacked experience.
老师说这个答案有不足。
lǎo shī shuō zhè ge dá àn yǒu bù zú。
The teacher said this answer has shortcomings.
时间不足，大家只好先结束。
shí jiān bù zú， dà jiā zhǐ hǎo xiān jié shù。
Because time was not enough, everyone had to end first.
这个方法还有不足之处。
zhè ge fāng fǎ hái yǒu bù zú zhī chù。
This method still has shortcomings.
不足的地方需要慢慢改进。
bù zú de dì fāng xū yào màn màn gǎi jìn。
The insufficient parts need gradual improvement.
Mini dialogue
准备野餐食物
A
我们带的面包够吃吗？
Wǒmen dài de miànbāo gòu chī ma?
Is the bread we brought enough to eat?
B
可能不足，我们再去买一点吧。
Kěnéng bù zú, wǒmen zài qù mǎi yìdiǎn ba.
It might be insufficient, let's go buy a little more.
做手工的材料
A
这张纸够大吗？
Zhè zhāng zhǐ gòu dà ma?
Is this piece of paper big enough?
B
大小不足，我们需要换一张更大的。
Dàxiǎo bù zú, wǒmen xūyào huàn yì zhāng gèng dà de.
The size is insufficient, we need to switch to a bigger one.
Related words and contrasts
similar
不够
bú gòu
not enough
more common in spoken Chinese
similar
缺乏
quē fá
to lack; shortage
slightly more formal
opposite
充分
chōng fèn
sufficient; ample
opposite of insufficient