宁缺毋滥 in English ning4 que1 wu2 lan4 Meaning

Meanings

  • better to have nothing (than substandard choice) (idiomatic expression); would prefer to go without than accept shoddy option

Simplified Characters

宁 缺 毋 滥

Traditional Characters

寧 缺 毋 濫

Pinyin

ning4 que1 wu2 lan4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

宁ning2to store 缺que1deficiency 毋wu2surname Wu 滥lan4overflowing