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供应不足
gōngyìng bùzú
short supply
由于疫情，许多地区的口罩供应不足。
Due to the pandemic, many areas face a short supply of masks.
formal
A situation where the available quantity of a good or service is insufficient to meet demand.
由于天气恶劣，新鲜蔬菜的供应不足。
Adverse weather has led to a short supply of fresh vegetables.
这家工厂因原材料供应不足而减产。
The factory reduced production due to insufficient raw material supply.
Commonly used in economic, business, or logistics contexts to describe shortages.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish from '供不应求'
'供应不足' emphasizes the shortage itself, while '供不应求' (supply cannot meet demand) highlights the imbalance between supply and demand. Both indicate scarcity but with different nuances.
Gold Rule
Use with specific contexts
Always specify what is in short supply (e.g., '电力供应不足' for power shortage, '人才供应不足' for talent shortage).
Word Origin
Compounded from '供应' (supply) and '不足' (insufficient). '供应' derives from Classical Chinese '供给应用' (to provide for use), while '不足' means 'not enough'. The phrase emerged in modern economic discourse to describe resource scarcity.
Usage Notes
Typically used in formal written or spoken contexts, such as reports, news articles, or business communications. Avoid using in casual conversation unless referring to specific shortages.
Word Breakdown
供应
supply/provision
root不足
insufficient/not enough
root汉英词典