に足りない
To not be worthy, To not be enough, To not be sufficient, To lack
Structure
Explanation
に足りない is a grammatical structure that follows the dictionary form of a verb. It is used to express that something is 'not worthy of (doing something)' or 'does not meet the standard for (an action)'. It is formed by combining the particle に with the negative form of the る-Verb 足りる, meaning 'to be enough' or 'to be sufficient'.
Due to its formal nature, this expression is typically found in written works or used in formal speaking situations.
- その問題は小さすぎて、議論するに足りない。That problem is too minor to be worth discussing.
- あの相手は口だけで何もしないから、恐れるに足りない。That opponent is all talk and no action, so they aren't worth being afraid of.
- この映画のレビューはひどいものばかりで、観るに足りないと思う。The reviews for this movie are all terrible; I don't think it's worth watching.
While に足りない is the negative counterpart to に足る, highlighting a lack of worth, it's important to note they derive from different verbs. 足る is an う-Verb, primarily seen in literature or Western Japan dialects. Consequently, its negative form is 足らない, which is distinct from 足りない.
Caution
The fixed expression 取るに足りない, meaning 'to be insignificant' or 'not worth mentioning', can be formed using either 足りない or 足らない.
- 苦情のほとんどは、取るに足りない些細なことだった。Most of the complaints were trivial matters, not worth taking up.
- その時は取るに足りない出来事に思えたが、後に大事件へと発展した。At the time it seemed like an insignificant event, but it later developed into a major incident.
Examples
あの政治家の主張は、真剣に議論するに足りない。
That politician's claims are not worth seriously debating.
その噂は根拠がないので、特に言及するに足りないことだ。
That rumor is baseless, so it's not worthy of any special mention.
彼が犯したミスなんて、会社の損害に比べれば取るに足りないものだ。
The mistake he made is insignificant compared to the company's overall losses.
そんな些細なことに、いちいち腹を立てるに足りませんよ。
It's not worth getting angry over every little thing like that.
口先だけで行動しない人間は、尊敬するに足りない。
A person who is all talk and no action is not worthy of respect.
私の努力は誰からも評価するに足りないと思われていて、悲しくなる。
I get sad thinking that my efforts are considered by everyone as unworthy of recognition.
その程度の挑発は、相手にするに足りない。
That level of provocation is not even worth acknowledging.
このようなデータは不正確すぎて、分析するに足りないだろう。
This data is too inaccurate; it's not worth analyzing.
記事：「他人の評価など気に病むに足りない。自分の道を信じて進めばいい。」
Article: 'The opinions of others are not worth agonizing over. Just believe in your own path and move forward.'
彼の説明は矛盾だらけで、信ずるに足りないと感じた。
His explanation was so full of contradictions, I felt he was untrustworthy.
彼は自分の過ちを取るに足りないことだと考え、謝罪すらしなかった。
He considered his own mistake to be insignificant and didn't even apologize.