に足る / に足りる
🃏 Flashcard
に足る / に足りる
ni taru/tariru
Tap to reveal usage
can do; worthy; worth doing
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
ni taru/tariru
Post ID
51317
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
can do; worthy; worth doing
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something or someone is worthy of or enough to be considered in a certain way, or that an action is worth doing.
Attaches to
Attach to the dictionary form of a verb or to a noun (often with の after a noun, but に足る directly follows a noun or の). For verbs, use the plain dictionary form. For nouns, use the noun directly or with の.
This pattern conveys that something meets the standard for being judged, trusted, or respected. It has a formal, written tone and is common in news, essays, and speeches. The verb form 足る is more literary, while 足りる is slightly more common in modern usage, but both are used in formal contexts. When attached to a verb, it often appears in phrases like 信頼するに足る (worthy of trust) or 読むに足る (worth reading). Note that the verb is always in its plain dictionary form, regardless of the subject or tense—the pattern itself carries the judgment.
彼は信頼するに足る人物だ。
Kare wa shinrai suru ni taru jinbutsu da.
He is a person worthy of trust.
この本は読むに足りる内容がある。
Kono hon wa yomu ni tariru naiyō ga aru.
This book has content worth reading.
その証拠は十分に検討するに足るものだ。
Sono shōko wa jūbun ni kentō suru ni taru mono da.
That evidence is worthy of thorough examination.
Not にたえる (ni taeru) [enduring]
に足る means 'worthy of', while にたえる means 'can withstand/endure' (e.g., 実用にたえる = practical enough to use). They are not interchangeable.
Register
Formal and literary; used in written language or formal speech, not in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
に足る / に足りる
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat に足る / に足りる three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using に足る / に足りる. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
← Previous
に足らない/に足りない
cannot; not worthy; not worth doing ~
Next →
に照らして
according to; in view of; in light of ~
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern に足る / に足りる mean?
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Can do; worthy; worth doing
What JLPT level is に足る / に足りる?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use に足る / に足りる in a sentence?
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Attach に足る / に足りる (ni taru/tariru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is に足る / に足りる formal or casual Japanese?
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に足る / に足りる is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember に足る / に足りる long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.