美中不足

měi zhōng bù zú

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

Definitions

1. everything is fine except for one small defect (idiom); the fly in the ointment

Word relationships

Antonyms

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• 完美无缺 wán měi wú quē 完美无缺 wán měi wú quē perfect and without blemish direct antonym meaning perfect and flawless: perfect and without blemish

Synonyms

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• 白璧微瑕 bái bì wēi xiá 白璧微瑕 bái bì wēi xiá a slight blemish near synonym, also means a small flaw in something otherwise perfect, more literary: a slight blemish

Usage notes

Common mistakes

This idiom is used to point out a minor flaw in an otherwise good situation; it cannot be used for a situation that is completely bad or has major flaws.

Example Sentences

1 shown

这个地方很美， 美中不足 的是交通不太方便。

This place is very beautiful, but the only drawback is that the transportation is not very convenient.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 美中不足

• 不 不 bù: no; not so
• 不足 不足 bù zú: insufficient
• 中 中 zhōng: within
• 中 中 zhòng: to hit (the mark)
• 美 美 měi: beautiful
• 足 足 jù: excessive
• 足 足 zú: foot
• 美中 美中 měi zhōng: USA-China