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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.
'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.
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).
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.
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.