绌 (chù) - Insufficient & inadequate

绌Tone 4

chù ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 纟

橙丁

绌 · chù

Insufficient;

inadequate;

short of;

to fall short;

inferior.

Insufficientinadequateshort of

Usage highlights

Insufficient fundsPale by comparisonIncome falls short of expenditureLeft shortInferior qualityCrude and inferior

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • His income falls short of his expenses (入不敷出).
  • The budget is insufficient (经费支绌).
  • She felt inferior to her peers (相形见绌).

Collocations

  • Insufficient funds(经费支绌)
  • Pale by comparison(相形见绌)
  • Income falls short of expenditure(入不敷绌)
  • Left short(支绌)
  • Inferior quality(绌劣)
  • Crude and inferior(粗绌)

Idioms

  • Pale by comparison(相形见绌)
  • Income falls short of expenditure(入不敷绌)
  • Left in an awkward position(左支右绌)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'coarse silk' or 'inferior quality', extended to mean 'insufficient' or 'inadequate'.
  • Often used in financial and comparative contexts to indicate shortage or inferiority.
  • Common in classical Chinese texts describing resource constraints or comparative disadvantages.

FAQ