美中不足

• Pinyin: měi zhōng bù zú
• Hanzi breakdown: 美 = 羊 + 大 — beautiful; 中 = single vertical stroke through a box — within, among; 不 = negation; 足 = 口 + 止 — foot, sufficient

Meaning

A flaw in an otherwise perfect thing; a blemish on perfection; not quite perfect.

An idiomatic expression meaning that something is almost perfect but has one minor shortcoming. Often used to soften criticism or acknowledge that something is largely excellent while pointing out a single drawback. Tone is typically mild and regretful rather than strongly negative.

Examples

1. 这次毕业典礼各方面安排都相当周到，美中不足的是天公不作美，午后突然下起了大雨。 The graduation ceremony was thoughtfully arranged in every way; the only downside was the weather—heavy rain suddenly started in the afternoon.
2. 这款手机外观精致，性能出色，唯独电池续航略显不足，实属美中不足。 This phone looks refined and performs excellently; the only drawback is slightly weak battery life.
3. 整场音乐会演出十分精彩，美中不足的是最后一首曲子的结尾处出现了些许失误。 The concert was outstanding; the only blemish was a small mistake at the end of the final piece.

Usage Guide

Context: evaluation, reviews, feedback, daily conversation

Tone: mild

Do Say

• 这部小说情节曲折、人物立体，唯有结局收束略显仓促，让人感到美中不足，意犹未尽。(This novel has a gripping plot and well-rounded characters — the only thing that leaves something to be desired is the somewhat rushed ending, which left readers wanting more.)
• 新居的格局开阔明亮，装修风格也颇具品味，美中不足是离地铁站稍远，日常出行需多花些时间。(The new flat has an open, bright layout and tasteful décor — the only minor drawback is that it is a little far from the metro station, which adds some time to daily commutes.)

Don't Say

• 将'美中不足'用于描述严重缺陷或重大问题 — 此成语适用于微小遗憾，描述严重缺陷应用'严重不足''重大缺陷'或'根本性问题' (Do not use 美中不足 for serious defects or major problems — this idiom suits minor regrets; for serious shortcomings use 严重不足, 重大缺陷, or 根本性问题)

Origin & History

美 (beautiful, perfect) + 中 (within, among) + 不足 (insufficient, lacking). Within beauty, there is something lacking — a flaw within perfection.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal