Một giây là đủ.

A second is enough.

Breakdown of Một giây là đủ.

• là: to be
• một: a
• đủ: enough
• giây: the second (time)

Questions & Answers about Một giây là đủ.

What does each word in Một giây là đủ mean?

Word by word:

• một = one
• giây = second
• là = is / to be
• đủ = enough, sufficient

So the sentence is literally One second is enough.

What is the basic sentence structure here?

The structure is:

• Một giây = the amount of time being talked about
• là đủ = is enough

So it works like:

• [amount/time] + là đủ
• One second + is enough

This is a very common way to say that some amount is sufficient.

Why is là used here?

Là is the linking word, similar to is in English.

In Vietnamese, adjectives often do not need là:

• Cái này đủ rồi = This is enough already.

But in patterns like X là đủ where you are identifying some amount or thing as sufficient, là is very natural:

• Một người là đủ = One person is enough.
• Ba phút là đủ = Three minutes is enough.

So in Một giây là đủ, là helps form the idea one second is enough in a neat, complete way.

Could you say Một giây đủ without là?