供过于求
gōng guò yú qiú
supply exceeds demand; oversupply
Character by character
供gōng
supply
supply
过guò
exceed
exceed
于yú
than
than
求qiú
demand
demand
Example
这几年房子盖得太多，供过于求，房价自然涨不上去。
Too many homes have been built in recent years; supply exceeds demand, so naturally prices cannot rise.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
The opposite of 供不应求 (lesson 3-4). The language of economics and the news; 于 means “than”, as in 大于 and 高于. Usually followed by the result: 供过于求，价格下跌.
Learn this in Lesson 173 · HSK 7–9: 寿光的大棚 (The greenhouses of Shouguang)
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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