美中不足

měi zhōng bù zú

  • Meaning

    Literal

    -

    Usage

    Refers to something that overall is flawless but has one small issue

  • Connotation

    Neutral

  • Usage Examples

    这汤美中不足的是不够咸 | Zhè tāng mĕizhōngbùzú de shì bùgòu xián
    The only thing wrong with the soup is that it isn't salty enough
    [Source]

    她法语讲得很流利，但美中不足的是发音不大好 | Tā fǎyǔ jiǎng dé hěn liúlì, dàn měizhōngbùzú de shì fāyīn bù dàhǎo
    She speaks French very fluently, but her pronunciation lets her down
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    The fly in the ointment

    Chinese

    None

  • Entry Notes

    None

  • Origin

    《初刻拍案惊奇》(Chū Kè Pāi Àn Jīng Qí), a collection of novels by Míng (明, 1368-1644) writer 凌濛初 (Líng Méng Chū)

  • Story

    This chengyu is from a line in the work listed in the "Origin" section above

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]