寧缺毋濫
简 宁缺毋滥 · 繁 寧缺毋濫Meanings
- better to have nothing (than substandard choice) (idiom); would prefer to go without than accept shoddy option
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Mandarin tones
4–1–2–4 · ning4 que1 wu2 lan4
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
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Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
寧缺毋濫 · find source passages ↗ · 宁缺毋滥 · find source passages ↗
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
ning4 kyut3 mou4 laam6
Cantonese word readings for 寧缺毋濫. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
phrase
- (idiomatic) would rather go without than have some something less than satisfactory; it is better to leave a deficiency uncovered than have it covered without discretion
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
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