Japanese grammar

What does ～に足る mean? Japanese grammar N1

～に足る means worthy of; sufficient to….

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N1
Structure	Vる／N + に足る
Romaji	nitaru
Meaning	worthy of; sufficient to…

Forming it

Connection	Vる／N + に足る

How to use it

Evaluates something as VALUABLE ENOUGH to receive that action. Literary, common in comments and reports.

「Vる／N＋に足る」 = worth it, deserving of. The accompanying noun is usually an action noun: 信頼・尊敬・検討・満足.
Mainly used as a modifier 「に足る＋N」: 「信頼に足る人物」「検討に足る提案」.
The negative is 「に足りない」 (not worth it): 「取るに足りない問題」 (a problem not worth bothering with) — this phrase comes up often on exams.

Examples

彼(かれ)の提案(ていあん)は検討(けんとう)に足(た)る内容(ないよう)だ。
His proposal is worthy of consideration.
この作品(さくひん)は信頼(しんらい)に足(た)る資料(しりょう)に基(もと)づいている。
The work is based on trustworthy material.

Keep in mind

The particle is 「に」, not 「を」.
The negative form is 「に足りない」.

Common mistakes

Wrong検討(けんとう)を足(た)る内容(ないよう)だ。

Correct検討(けんとう)に足(た)る内容(ないよう)だ。

The standard "worth it" takes に足る.

Exam tips

「に足る」 = worth it (uses 「に」); the negative 「取るに足りない」 = not worth mentioning.

Related patterns

All N1 grammar →