过剩

guòshèng

to be excessive; to be more than is required

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"过剩" (guòshèng) means 'excess' or 'surplus,' referring to a quantity that exceeds what is needed or can be used. It is often used in economic, environmental, and social contexts to describe situations where supply surpasses demand or capacity.

Common Collocations

  • 商品过剩: surplus of goods, often leading to price drops.
  • 能源过剩: energy surplus, implying waste and environmental concerns.
  • 人口过剩: overpopulation, a social issue.

Usage Notes

"过剩" is typically used as an adjective or noun to describe an excessive amount. It often appears in formal or written contexts, such as news reports or academic discussions. When using "过剩," speakers imply a negative consequence of having too much of something.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse "过剩" with "剩余" (shèngyú), which also means surplus but is more neutral and often used in accounting or statistics. "过剩" emphasizes excess beyond a reasonable or needed amount.

Example Sentences

市场上出现了大量的商品过剩,导致价格下跌。

Shìchǎng shàng chūxiànle dàliàng de shāngpǐn guòshèng, dǎozhì jiàgé xiàdié.

There is a large surplus of goods in the market, causing prices to fall.

能源过剩会浪费资源,也会影响环境保护。

Néngyuán guòshèng huì làngfèi zīyuán, yě huì yǐngxiǎng huánjìng bǎohù.

Energy surplus wastes resources and also affects environmental protection.

人口过剩是一些国家面临的严重社会问题。

Rénkǒu guòshèng shì yīxiē guójiā miànlín de yánzhòng shèhuì wèntí.

Overpopulation is a serious social problem faced by some countries.