宁缺毋滥
nìng quē wú làn
better to go without than to settle for second best
Character by character
宁nìng
rather
rather
缺quē
lack
lack
毋wú
not
not
滥làn
excess
excess
Example
我们招人一向宁缺毋滥，找不到合适的，这个岗位就先空着。
We have always preferred an empty post to the wrong hire: if we can’t find the right person, the job stays open.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
毋 is classical “do not”, and 滥 means too many and too poor. Said with approval of high standards in choosing staff, members, prize winners or a partner (找对象宁缺毋滥), though parents tend to hear it as an excuse. 宁…毋… is the old form of 宁可…也不….
Learn this in Lesson 151 · HSK 7–9: 人民公园相亲角 (The marriage market in People’s Park)
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.
Open the lesson →