Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 7: 6/17

に足(た)りないTo not be worthy, To not be enough, To not be sufficient, To lack

に足らない is an older variant.

Structure

Verb + に足(た)りない

Details

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    Formal

About に足りない

に足(た)りない is a grammar expression appearing after the dictionary form of verbs used to indicate that something is 'not worth (A)', or 'not sufficient for (A)'. It comes from a combination of the case-marking particle に, and the る-Verb 足(た)りる 'to be sufficient', or 'to be enough'.

This structure is formal, so will mostly be used in literature or formal speech settings.

While に足(た)りない may be similar to another grammar point, に足(た)る, in that they are conversely pointing out the worth, or lack of worth of something, they are actually different verbs. 足(た)る is an う-Verb, and is often used more in literature, or in western Japan. This means that the negative form of 足(た)る is 足(た)らない, not 足(た)りない.

Caution

Both 足(た)りない and 足(た)らない may be used as part of the set phrase 取(と)るに足(た)りない, 'to be worthless', or 'to not be worth taking up for discussion'.

  • 周(まわ)りから見(み)ると取(と)るに足(た)りない、ただのゴミだが、私(わたし)にとっては大切(たいせつ)なコレクションの一部(いちぶ)だ。
    From the perspective of the people around me, it's nothing but a worthless piece of garbage, but to me they are an important part of my collection.
  • この部品(ぶひん)は取(と)るにたらない物(もの)のように見(み)えるかもしれないが、これが壊(こわ)れたら、この機械(きかい)は動(うご)かなくなる。
    This component may seem insignificant, but if it breaks, this machine will stop working.

Examples

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    ロジャー・キントの言葉(ことば)は一(ひと)つとして信(しん)じるに足(た)りないことだ。

    Not even one word of Roger Kint is worth believing.

    こんな稚拙(ちせつ)な感想文(かんそうぶん)なんて、発表(はっぴょう)するに足(た)りないですよ…。

    Such a crude opinion piece is not worthy of publishing, right?

      自慢(じまん)するに足(た)りないテストの点数(てんすう)で、しょんぼりとしている。

      I am feeling dejected because of a test score that is not worthy of being proud about.

        これは因果応報(いんがおうほう)というやつだから、彼女(かのじょ)には同情(どうじょう)するに足(た)りません。

        Because this is what you’d call karma, it is not sympathizing with her.

        信(しん)じるに足(た)りないデタラメを信(しん)じてしまうような人(ひと)が心配(しんぱい)でならない。

        I can’t help worry about the type of person that trusts rubbish that is not worthy of trusting.

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