供不应求
供不应求 (gōng bù yìng qiú) literally means “supply cannot meet demand” and expresses “demand exceeds available supply”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: gong bu ying qiu, gong bu ying qiu,供不应求 meaning, 供不应求 in english
Demand exceeds available supply
Pronunciation: gōng bù yìng qiú Literal meaning: Supply cannot meet demand
Origin & Usage
Han Dynasty economic reports first used this phrase to describe how provision (供) cannot (不) meet (应) demand (求) during grain shortages. Tang Dynasty market theorists expanded it into a broader principle of economic dynamics. The phrase captures that fundamental tension between limited production and unlimited wants that drives market behavior. Today it describes any situation where demand overwhelms available supply.
When to Use
Situation: The limited production capacity couldn't satisfy the overwhelming market interest
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 供不应求 mean in English?
供不应求 (gōng bù yìng qiú) literally translates to “Supply cannot meet demand” and is used to express “Demand exceeds available supply”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 供不应求 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving demand exceeds available supply.
What is the pinyin for 供不应求?
The pinyin pronunciation for 供不应求 is “gōng bù yìng qiú”.