Meaning and Usage
"足る" (たる) is a somewhat formal or literary verb meaning "to be sufficient" or "to be enough." It often appears in written Japanese or formal speech rather than casual conversation. It expresses that something meets the necessary amount or standard.
Common Collocations
- 足りるか (たりるか): "Is it enough?" Used when questioning sufficiency.
- 足りない (たりない): Negative form meaning "not enough" or "insufficient."
- 努力が足る (どりょくがたる): "Effort is sufficient." Often used to describe adequacy of effort or resources.
Usage Notes
"足る" is often interchangeable with "足りる" (たりる), which is more common in everyday speech. However, "足る" tends to appear in more formal or written contexts. Learners should be careful not to confuse "足る" with "足す" (たす), which means "to add."
Common Mistake
A frequent learner mistake is mixing "足る" (to be enough) with "足す" (to add). Remember: "足る" is about sufficiency, while "足す" is about increasing quantity.
Summary
Use "足る" when you want to express sufficiency in a formal or literary style. For everyday conversation, "足りる" is more natural. Pay attention to context and register to choose the appropriate form.