…有余，…不足
more than enough A, too little B
Structure
A 有余 ， B 不足
What it means
Weighs up a person, team, plan or piece of work: more than enough (even too much) of A, too little of B. Mildly critical.
How it is built
A + 有余，B + 不足, with short, balanced nouns or verbs, usually two characters each: 这支球队防守有余，进攻不足 (The team is solid enough at the back but weak going forward).
When to use it
Commentary, reviews and appraisals. Related fixed phrases: 守成有余，开拓不足 and 心有余而力不足 (lesson 3-23). After a number, 有余 just means “more than”: 十年有余.
Watch out
Neither half takes 很: ✗训练很有余 ✓训练有余，文化学习不足. Keep the two halves parallel so the pair sounds balanced.
Examples
体校的孩子往往训练有余，文化学习不足。
Sports-school children often get more than enough training and too little schooling.
这支球队防守有余，进攻不足，十场比赛只进了四个球。
The team is solid enough at the back but weak going forward: four goals in ten matches.
这份报告数据有余，分析不足，读完还是不知道该怎么办。
The report has plenty of figures but too little analysis; after reading it you still don’t know what to do.
Learn this in Lesson 148 · HSK 7–9: 举重与举国体制 (Weightlifting and the state sports system)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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