供不应求 (gōngbùyìngqiú) · demand exceeds supply

供不应求 (gōngbùyìngqiú) means “demand exceeds supply”. It is written with 4 characters: 供 (to supply) + 不 (not) + 应 (should) + 求 (to ask (a favor)). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).

How 供不应求 is built

The characters

供 gōng · to supply

What 供 is made of

亻rén — person
共gòng — common
- 廾gǒng — two hands
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 八bā — eight

Origin hint: A person 亻 making an offering with both hands 共; 共 also provides the pronunciation (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

不 bù · not

What 不 is made of

一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: A bird flying toward the sky 一 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

应 yīng · should

What 应 is made of

广guǎng — broad
- 丶 — dot
- 厂chǎng — cliff
⺍ — three-stroke
一 — horizontal stroke

求 qiú · to ask (a favor)

What 求 is made of

一 — horizontal stroke
氺shui — structural part
- 亅 — hook

Example sentences

这种新手机供不应求。Zhè zhǒng xīn shǒujī gōngbùyìngqiú.Demand for this new phone exceeds supply.

节日前，火车票常常供不应求。Jiérì qián, huǒchēpiào chángcháng gōngbùyìngqiú.Before holidays, train tickets are often in short supply.

Questions about 供不应求

What does 供不应求 mean?

供不应求 (gōngbùyìngqiú) means “demand exceeds supply”.

How do you pronounce 供不应求?

供不应求 is pronounced gōngbùyìngqiú.

Which HSK level is 供不应求?

供不应求 is in Old HSK 6.

Related words

Learn 供不应求 with its group

It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 67: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group