に足る・
に足る・に足りる says that someone or something has enough value, quality, or supporting evidence to merit the action or evaluation placed before it.
What is being judged
The part before に supplies the standard of worth. The construction does not merely praise something in general: it says that the person, source, proposal, result, or evidence is good enough to merit a particular response.
Typical evaluations
Notice how each example makes the relevant standard clear: trustworthiness, reliability as a source, or enough evidential force to reconsider a theory.
彼女は、長年の実績から見ても信頼するに足る指導者だ。
Judging from her many years of achievement, she is a leader worthy of trust.
Analyze社内調査で、信頼に足る資料が新たに見つかった。
The internal investigation uncovered new, reliable source material.
Analyze信頼 is a suru-noun here; する is not inserted before the particle.
今回の結果は、従来の理論を再検討するに足りる。
The latest results are substantial enough to warrant reconsidering the existing theory.
AnalyzeThis is a sentence-final use of the more modern-looking 足りる form.
Choosing between the two forms
足る is an older compact form and is particularly common when the whole expression modifies a following noun. 足りる follows the modern verb pattern and works naturally in sentence-final judgments as well. The practical difference is mainly style, not a sharp difference in meaning.
Nearby expressions
に値する directly says that something deserves an evaluation and is often the more transparent modern choice. By contrast, に足る presents something as sufficiently good or substantial for a named action such as trusting, considering, or reexamining. に堪える is narrower: it asks whether something can stand up to viewing, reading, appreciation, or another test of quality.
More examples
その研究は、国際的にも注目するに足る成果を上げた。
The research produced results worthy of international attention.
Analyze彼は、困難な状況でも原則を曲げなかった。尊敬するに足る人物だ。
He did not compromise his principles even under difficult circumstances. He is a person worthy of respect.
Analyzeこの証言は、他の記録とも一致しており、信頼に足りる。
This testimony agrees with the other records and is trustworthy.
Analyze本書は、複雑な問題を明快に整理しており、一読に足る。
This book organizes a complex issue clearly and is well worth reading.
Analyzeこの作品には、次の世代に伝えるに足る普遍的な魅力がある。
This work has a timeless appeal worthy of being passed on to the next generation.
Analyze調査チームは、結論を修正するに足りるデータを集めた。
The research team gathered enough data to warrant revising the conclusion.
Analyze