美中不足

měizhōng-bùzú

everything is fine except for one small defect (idiom); the fly in the ointment

HSK 7

한자 분해

Meaning and Usage

"美中不足" literally means "a flaw in something beautiful." It is used to point out a minor imperfection or drawback in an otherwise good or beautiful thing.

Common Contexts

This phrase is often used in everyday conversation to soften criticism by acknowledging the overall positive while noting a small defect. It can describe objects, performances, services, or situations.

Collocations and Patterns

Nuance

Using 美中不足 implies that the speaker recognizes the overall value or beauty but wants to honestly mention a small issue. It is more polite and less harsh than directly saying something is bad.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 美中不足 with completely negative words. It always implies a mostly positive evaluation with a minor flaw.

예문

这幅画整体很美,中间有一点美中不足的地方。

Zhè fú huà zhěngtǐ hěn měi, zhōngjiān yǒu yīdiǎn měizhōng-bùzú de dìfāng.

This painting is beautiful overall, but there is a small flaw in the middle.

他的演讲内容丰富,但语速太快是一个美中不足。

Tā de yǎnjiǎng nèiróng fēngfù, dàn yǔsù tài kuài shì yīgè měizhōng-bùzú.

His speech was rich in content, but the too fast speaking speed was a

这家餐厅的服务很好,环境也不错,唯一的美中不足是价格有点高。

Zhè jiā cāntīng de fúwù hěn hǎo, huánjìng yě búcuò, wéiyī de

The service at this restaurant is good and the environment is nice; the only